VISAKHAPATNAM: Telangana policemen, who were in Vizag Agency for a decoy operation in search of ganja smugglers and kingpins in the trade, opened fire while dispersing a group of people near Lammasingi village under Chintapalle mandal, injuring two persons in the process.
The police came from Nalgonda district. They opened fire after the group hurled stones at them. Two ganja smugglers were injured and shifted to the government hospital in Narsipatnam for treatment.
Nalgonda Task Force police recently seized over 300 kilos of dry ganja. Their investigation revealed that one Balakrishna, along with some others from Lammasingi, were supplying the contraband in Nalgonda. The police came to Lammasingi in connection with the case to nab smugglers.
On Friday they nabbed one K Bhima Raju of Annavaram. Their efforts to apprehend Balakrishna, however, proved futile.
Family members and acquaintances of Bhima Raju, who were searching for him later came to know that he had been arrested by the police. On Sunday, Nalgonda police decided to hand over Bhima Raju to his family. While they were heading towards Annavaram, a number of villagers, including some ganja smugglers, lay in wait for the police.
Suspecting that locals would attack them, the police tried to turn back but their vehicles got stuck near Lammasingi due to traffic on the ghat road. Angry villagers, including some ganja smugglers, hurled stones at the police. Some personnel suffered injuries in the skirmish, which also damaged their vehicles.
Nalgonda police then opened fire in the air in self-defence. However, two persons — Kamaraju and Rambabu — suffered bullet injuries.
DIG (Visakha Range) L K V Ranga Rao and Vizag Rural police chief B Krishna Rao confirmed reports of firing. The injured persons were shifted to a hospital where their condition is said to be stable, they added.
