A 27-year-old man was arrested on October 3 after he allegedly opened fire at a police team during a chase in Gujarat’s Aravalli district. The Local Crime Branch recovered 425.8 kg of poppy straw worth Rs 63.87 lakh from the black Scorpio he was travelling in.

The operation took place near Sun Gold Hotel on the outskirts of Mordungari village under Malpur police station limits. When officers tried to stop the speeding Scorpio, the driver rammed a police mobile van, made a U-turn and fled. A police Fortuner intercepted it head-on, bringing it to a halt.

The passenger then allegedly fired two rounds at the police team. Police Inspector M.H. Zala returned fire, and a bullet struck the suspect’s right calf, after which he was overpowered. He was identified as Rajuram Jangu, alias Bishnoi, from Dhorimana in Rajasthan’s Barmer district. His accomplice, Sureshkumar Bishnoi, escaped and is being traced.

Police said the consignment was being smuggled from Mandsaur in Madhya Pradesh through Gujarat to Barmer in Rajasthan. Officers also recovered two pistols, 11 live cartridges and several mobile phones from the vehicle.