3 suspected cannabis smugglers die after jumping in well: MP Police

The deceased were residents of Shahdol, and their bodies were discovered 12 hours after cannabis was recovered

Published on: Apr 14, 2026, 19:25:32 IST

By Shruti Tomar, Bhopal

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Three men suspected of smuggling cannabis allegedly died after jumping into an open well while trying to escape police in Madhya Pradesh’s Shahdol district’s Jaitpur area late Monday night.

Police recovered approximately six kilograms of cannabis. (Representative photo)

The deceased were identified as Rohit Sharma (40), Tanu Shukla (20), and Sachin Baghel (22), all residents of Shahdol, said police.

Their deaths were discovered nearly 12 hours after seizing cannabis from their car, said police. Family members reached the accident site and alerted authorities to the well. Bodies were recovered and sent for post-mortem examination.

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Jaitpura police station in-charge Jay Prakash Sharma said, “During night patrol, constable Krishnendra Yadav spotted a suspicious Creta car going towards Kamta. When signalled, the occupants sped away, leading to a chase. The car lost control and overturned near Kamta College T-junction. Six people were inside. Three fled and police recovered approximately six kilograms of cannabis from the vehicle.”

Shahdol superintendent of police, Ramji Shrivastava said, “Prima facie, the deceased were cannabis smugglers who fell into the well while escaping.” Efforts are underway to trace the other occupants, he said.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shruti Tomar
I have spent over a decade chronicling Madhya Pradesh’s political and social landscape, covering politics, investigative journalism, crime, human interest, and government policy, blending sharp insight with ground‑level depth. I have closely tracked three assembly elections, three Lok Sabha elections, leadership transitions in MP while exposing governance lapses, tender irregularities, and flawed policy rollouts. My reports have revealed gaps in the Cheetah project, irregularities in medical education, rigging in recruitment exams, and loopholes in policy implementation. In crime reporting, I have moved beyond FIRs to map systemic patterns — from organised crime networks and gender‑based violence to custodial accountability — balancing urgency with sensitivity. My journalism is defined by a commitment to human interest. I have profiled the marginalised Bancchda community, documented atrocities against tribal groups, and highlighted efforts to preserve their culture through heritage liquor and revival of spiritual practices. I have reported on farmers struggling with failed MSP promises, giving voice to those often reduced to statistics in policy files. Passionate about field reporting, I have reported on rampant sand mining in Chambal and Narmada, pharmaceutical companies supplying medicines under altered names, the dire condition of schools and colleges, the plight of commercial sex workers, and skewed sex ratios in specific districts. Beyond deadlines, and as HT’s state correspondent and assistant editor in Madhya Pradesh, I engage with ministers, farmers, students, and activists, believing the best policy stories begin with a single human voice. A postgraduate in Journalism and Mass Communication, I also hold a diploma in sports journalism.Read More

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