Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)
Bengaluru, Aug 22: In a dramatic operation, the city police fired at a gang of drug peddlers who were transporting ganja concealed inside sachets meant for packing eatables like Kurkure and Lays. This success has come at a time when drug abuse has been increasing at an alarming rate in the state of late.
The police say that this 11-member-gang was operating to supply ganja to the city from Andhra Pradesh. Personnel of Marathahalli station in the city, who collected reliable information about the gang, conducted an operation on Tuesday August 21 and arrested 11 persons. Reports said that two main operators of the drug cartel were injured in the firing, while two policemen too were injured in the tussle. The gang fiercely fought back when the police raided them, it is learnt. Another member of the gang succeeded in giving the police a slip and the police have been trying to nab him.
Key operators of the gang, Sayyed Farooq (48) from Hoskote taluk in Bengaluru rural district, and Sadiq Sharif (39) from K R Pura suffered bullet injuries in their legs. The other arrested drug peddlers are Mohiddur Sheikh (25), Muhammed Bilal (30), Hafiz Ul (35), Hafiz Ul Sheikh (35), Muhammed Shukoor (22), Muhammed Aslam (22), Muhammed Shuhak (25) and Hafiz Ul (32).
Five kg of ganja was confiscated from the possession of the gang members. Marathahalli sub-inspector, Guruprasad and head constable, Ravishankar, were injured in the operation. Both are being treated in a private hospital, said Whitefield division deputy commissioner of police (DCP), Abdul Ahad.
Ahad had formed a separate team for finding out drug traffickers in tune with the instructions given by state home minister, Dr G Parameshwar, at a meeting he held with senior police officers recently. The team which conducted the operation was led by Sadiq Pasha, inspector of Marathahalli station. The officials said that they could collect the information that ganja was being supplied to the city from Andhra Pradesh under the guidance of kingpins Sayyed Farooq and Sadiq Sharif.
After getting information that main accused, Sayyed Farooq and Sadiq Sharif were moving in a motor bike near Borewell Junction within HAL police station limits at around 6.30 pm on Tuesday August 21, the police team went there. When an effort was made by sub-inspector, Guruprasad, and constable, Ravishankar, to nab them, the miscreants tried to escape by attacking them with lethal weapons. Inspector Sadiq Pasha and Guruprasad then fired at the legs of the accused and arrested them.
DCP Abdul Ahad said that the arrested accused were involved with drug trade since the last some years. He said that efforts would be made to find out drug addicts and create an awareness among them about the ill affects of this addiction in an effort aimed at bringing down demand for drugs.