Gang try to run over officials at Kannur checkpost, arrested

MALAPPURAM: A gang of youngsters were arrested on Sunday for possessing banned drugs and trying to run over officials at Kannur excise checkpost. The incident took place at the Koottupuzha Kannur check post. Yasser Arafat, a native of Beypore, and his associates were caught by the excise team. A total of 685 grams of methamphetamine, a deadly drug worth Rs 50 lakh, was seized from their possession.

Pulikal native Shefiq(32), his wife and Pulliparamba native Sauda(28), VK Afnanuddin (22)and Muhammad Shahid (28) were arrested. According to Excise, it was one of the biggest meth busts ever conducted in the northern region of Kerala.

Assistant Excise Inspector KK Shaji and Preventive Officer Shaji Alokan, who were checking vehicles at the Excise Check post, escaped unhurt after they were tried to run over by the gang. The incident took place at 2:30 am on Sunday. The police and the officials immediately did the chase but failed to nab the culprits.

Yasser Arafat was arrested from the Malappuram and Kozhikode region last night during the investigation conducted by the Excise Commissioner Squad, Kannur DANSAF and Iritty Police. According to police, it was Yasser who was driving the vehicle during the time of the incident at the Kannur checkpost.