An illicit liquor smuggler bit off the left ear helix of an Assistant Excise Inspector from Kozhikode who was conducting a vehicle check on the highway near Pisharikavu in Koyilandy on Friday.
K. Satheesan was attacked by K. Ranjith, 41, a native of Azhiyoor, who was arrested along with another man for illegally transporting 240 bottles of Indian-made Foreign Liquor from Mahe.
According to Excise Department officials, the incident took place around 8 a.m. on Friday while the squad members, including Mr. Satheesan, were inspecting suspected vehicles on the route.
On a tip-off received by Assistant Excise Commissioner P.K. Suresh, the squad tried to stop an autorickshaw driven by Ranjith and his friend C.K. Prakashan.
However, they fled from the spot and the Excise squad had to chase them.
Ranjith, the main accused in the case, engaged in a verbal dual with Excise officials as they reportedly denied him bail and insisted on producing him along with his friend before the Magistrate. As the attempts proved futile, he tried to flee from the spot after a physical encounter with the squad members.
The Excise official’s ear was bitten off while he was trying to block the accused.
The injured officer was later rushed to the Koyilandy taluk hospital for first aid and was later shifted to the Government Medical College Hospital, Kozhikode. According to hospital sources, the lost helix was in a chewed form. Plastic surgery could be conducted on him only after curing the wounds.
Meanwhile, two of the accused were produced before the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court in Koyilandy and remanded in judicial custody.
The criminal case filed against them would be investigated separately.
