Drug raid turns violent in Kochi as excise team comes under attack

KOCHI: An Excise team that arrived to conduct a drug raid was attacked by the accused's relatives and associates in Thammanam here on Independence Day night, leaving three Excise personnel, including a woman officer, injured. The accused, a key member of a gang involved in bringing large quantities of drugs from Delhi for sale, was forcibly freed from Excise custody and taken away.

Civil Excise Officer Shiyas, driver Vishnukumar and Woman Civil Excise Officer Kanaka were injured in the attack. All three sought treatment at a hospital. Four people — Akhil, Vishal, Ajith and Abin Antony — were arrested by Palarivattom police in connection with the assault on the Excise officials. Police have intensified their search for Vaishakh, who escaped from Excise custody, and Vishal, a resident of A.K.G. Nagar.

The Excise team, led by Ernakulam Excise Range Inspector R. Abhiraj, reached Thammanam in plain clothes based on information that around 200 grams of MDMA had been brought from Delhi. The officials suspected that the drug had been hidden inside a duck farm.
Meanwhile, Vaishakh arrived on a motorcycle and was stopped and questioned by the officials. He allegedly pushed the officers aside and tried to escape.
Following this, Vaishakh's father, friends and local residents gathered at the spot, surrounded the Excise officials, verbally abused them and allegedly assaulted them.

Amid the commotion, the protesters forcibly freed Vaishakh from the custody of the officials and moved him to a nearby house. He was later allegedly provided an opportunity to escape from there.
Palarivattom police reached the spot after being alerted, following which the situation was brought under control.