Kerala: Excise officers hurt during bid to arrest ganja peddler

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A team of excise officers from Nedumangad circle suffered serious injuries in an attack while attempting to arrest a ganja peddler. Excise circle inspector B R Suroop, preventive officer Anil Kumar, civil excise officers Shajeer and Najimuddin and excise driver Muneer were injured in the attack.
Subeesh, 23, of Roadarikathu Veettil near Asarikonam in Nedumangad was arrested under NDPS Act and 1.234kg of ganja was also seized from him. Aryanad police also registered a case against him under Section 308 of IPC for attempt to murder.
Based on a tip-off, a team of excise officials questioned Subeesh who was standing in front of Kulappada Krishi Bhavan and they also found ganja from his possession. However, to evade arrest the accused tried attacked the officers with an iron rod. He was later arrested by the team.
Meanwhile, excise minister M V Govindan said the attack against the excise officers will be seriously dealt with. The minister spoke to the injured officers over phone and assured full support of the government.