Mumbai: 7 cops injured as foreign drug peddlers hurl stones; 2 held

Mumbai: A group of drug peddlers, allegedly of foreign origin, hurled stones at a police party injuring seven policemen during a raid at Wadi Bunder area in South Mumbai, prompting them to fire three rounds in the air.

The incident took place late last night, in which two foreign nationals-- Infunanya Ginika Minke (37) and Ique Chikwneni Emaniyal (24)-- were arrested by city Crime Branch and cocaine worth Rs 2.5 lakh was seized from them.

According to the police, a raid was conducted at Wadi Bunder around 11.30 pm, following which the group of drug peddlers started fleeing away from the spot taking advantage of darkness.

"The area was dimly lit and there was complete darkness along the railway tracks. After the raid, the group members started running from the spot and during the chase they even attacked police with stones, which they picked up from the nearby railway tracks," Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Atul Kulkarni said.

"More than two dozen drug peddlers had become aggressive and were trying to attack the police team. In order to bring the situation under control, three rounds were fired in air by police," he added.

Two inspectors, one assistant inspector and four police naiks were injured in stone pelting. However, none of them was seriously hurt.

The arrested duo was booked under sections 307 (attempt to murder), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 332 (voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty), 337 (causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others), 147 (punishment for rioting), 148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapon) as well as the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.

Apart from the 40 gram cocaine, police recovered seven mobile phones, a digital weighing machine and Rs 44,000 cash from the accused.

The duo was handed over to Dongri police, who are carrying out further probe into the case.