A late-night operation to intercept an illegal liquor consignment in Madhya Pradesh's Dewas district ended in the death of a police officer, after the truck he was trying to stop allegedly ran him over and fled.

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The truck, which was later found abandoned in Sandalpur, was carrying 208 boxes containing around 1,800 litres of Indian-made foreign liquor, Dewas Superintendent of Police Aditya Mishra told The Times of India.

The incident took place around 1.30 am on Monday on the Indore-Betul highway. Khategaon police station in-charge Dilip Puri had reached the spot with his team after receiving information about suspected liquor smuggling.

Police said the truck was parked near the highway divider when Puri approached the driver and asked him to get out. Instead, the driver allegedly drove the vehicle onto the divider. A rear wheel ran over Puri, causing severe injuries and heavy blood loss.

The driver then allegedly crossed the divider, abandoned the truck at Sandalpur and escaped. Police have taken the vehicle to Sandalpur police station and are trying to identify those involved in the smuggling operation.

Puri was taken to hospital, where doctors tried to save him through CPR and other emergency measures for nearly two hours. He later died.

SIT formed to trace liquor smuggling network

The Dewas police have constituted a special investigation team to identify those behind the consignment and determine its intended destination, Mishra said.

Puri was leading five special teams set up as part of the district's anti-liquor drive. He is survived by his wife, Kavita, and their son and daughter.