Barnala, March 28 — Two drug smugglers were arrested after an encounter at a police checkpoint on the Mansa-Barnala road on Friday morning.
Acting on a tip-off, Barnala police’s CIA unit, led by inspector Baljit Singh, intercepted a black Hyundai Verna at 6:15 am. Instead of stopping, the driver sped away as his accomplice opened fire, hitting a police vehicle and a barricade. Police retaliated, injuring smuggler Veerbhadar Singh, alias Kalu, in the leg. He was hospitalised, while his accomplice, Keval Singh, was taken into custody.
Barnala SSP Sarfaraz Alam said Veerbhadar, who was out on bail, has 11 NDPS Act cases against him. An FIR has been registered under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Police recovered a Glock pistol, a .32-bore pistol, and a bag containing contraband capsules, whose contents are under investigation.
