2 drug smugglers held after encounter near Barnala

In an encounter that took place between the police and two alleged drug smugglers on the Barnala-Mansa road, near Barnala this morning, one of the accused sustained a bullet injury on his leg. The duo were arrested and the police seized two pistols and contraband capsules from their possession.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Barnala, Mohammad Sarfaraz Alam said the injured drug smuggler, Veerbhadar Singh, alias Kalu, was admitted to the hospital for treatment and his accomplice Kewal Singh, another drug smuggler, was also nabbed by the police from the spot. Both the accused were in a Verna car when they crossed the police naka despite the signal by the police to stop the car. They also opened fire on the police and in self-defence, the police team retaliated, causing a bullet injury on the leg of Veerbhadar Singh, he added.

The SSP said the police had recovered from their possession a Glock pistol, a .32 bore pistol and a bag of contraband capsules.

The SSP further said that as per preliminary information, Veerbhadar Singh had 11 FIRs registered against him under NDPS Act, Excise Act and various Sections of the IPC and the BNS in different police stations.