Palanpur: Three policemen and an alleged associate of Rajasthan’s Bishnoi gang were injured in an exchange of fire between police and suspected drug traffickers in Aravali district late Thursday night.A team of Aravali Local Crime Branch (LCB) tried to intercept a Scorpio allegedly being used to transport poppy husk when its occupants opened fire at the police vehicle, prompting the cops to retaliate in self-defence. One of the suspects, identified as Rajaram Bishnoi, was shot in the leg.An LCB inspector and two other policemen were also injured in the incident.According to police, the LCB team had received information that members of the gang were transporting a large quantity of poppy husk through interior roads of the district. Acting on the tip-off, the team intensified night patrolling and set up a checkpoint near Mordungari village in Malpur taluka.When the Scorpio approached the checkpoint, police signalled the occupants to stop. However, the suspects allegedly took a U-turn and fired two rounds at the police vehicle. LCB inspector M H Zala then fired four rounds in self-defence, hitting Rajaram in the leg. He collapsed and was taken to hospital for treatment, while another suspect fled from the spot.The cops got injured as the accused dashed their SUV in high speed with the police vehicle.Police recovered a Mauser pistol from the injured suspect and another pistol from the Scorpio. A search of the vehicle led to the recovery of nearly 500 kg of poppy husk, valued at around Rs 84 lakh, said Aravali SP Manoharsinh Jadeja.Earlier too, on Sept 21, the Aravalli police was targeted by the gang, forcing cops to open fire before seizing poppy husk worth Rs 42 lakh.The vehicle and narcotic substance have been seized and the latter will be sent for forensic examination.Police have launched a search operation to trace the absconding suspect, with checkpoints intensified along interstate routes and rural roads in Aravalli and neighbouring Sabarkantha. Technical and drone surveillance, along with combing operations in nearby forests and ravines, are being used to track him.Jadeja said the gang members often drive at speeds of up to 150 kmph while trying to evade police, ramming barricades and, at times, attacking cops. He said the traffickers also modify their vehicles to withstand crashes and cause severe damage to pursuing police SUVs.“We have also changed our strategy to curb this illegal trade. Policemen involved in such operations are now equipped with SUVs with stronger chassis, while all personnel are provided firearms and bulletproof jackets,” Jadeja said.
