Police inspector battling for life after attack by drug peddlers in M’rashtra village

KALABURAGI: A police inspector is battling for life after a police party which had gone to Maharashtra on the trail of ganja smugglers was brutally attacked by drug dealers.

Inspector Srimanth Illal.

A team of 10 police personnel from Kalaburagi had gone to neighbouring Maharashtra to crush the ganja smuggling racket when they came under attack by 30-40 people. Inspector Srimanth Illal suffered a murderous assault and has been hospitalised. The government is making preparation to airlift him, if needed.

The badly injured officer was shifted to Kalaburagi.

The drug mafia had spread its wings in the border districts and the Kalaburagi police had conducted a series of raids and arrested those involved in the trade. On definite information that a huge racket was operating from Teruri village in Maharashtra, a police team, led by Kalaburagi Rural police inspector Srimanth Illal raided the village.

His condition is critical, say doctors.

However, the team came under attack from drug dealers armed with iron rods and wooden sticks. Inspector Illah fired a warning shot in the air, but the gang assaulted him with an iron rod. The other police personnel ran helter-skelter.

The family members waiting outside the ICU.

After a good two hours, the Maharashtra police arrived on the scene and the bleeding Illal was rescued. He was shifted to a private hospital in Kalaburagi around 4 am on Saturday. The officer has suffered injuries in different parts of the body and has fractures in the ribs and face. He has also suffered head injuries.

Superintendent of Police Isha Pant checked on the officer at hospital.

Kalaburagi Superintendent of Police Isha Pant told Public TV, “After making some arrests a few days ago, the police had got definite information about the ganja racket. They even found some 30 ganja plants. By then, it was around 7 pm. That was when they were attacked. The Home Minister and DG&IGP have assured all possible assistance. We are also in touch with the Maharashtra police and we will take strict action against the attackers”.

Kalaburagi SP Isha Pant.

Doctors said Illal is critical and has suffered multiple trauma and had lost a lot of blood.

Kalaburagi Deputy Commissioner Yeshwant Gurukar said all arrangements have been made for the officer’s treatment and if necessary, he will be airlifted to another facility.