The Nirmal Park area in Byculla witnessed high drama in the early hours of Saturday while a police team was conducting a combing operation. In a showdown with a group of Nigerian nationals, who allegedly shot at the police team, seven people, including four policemen were injured.
According to Senior Police Inspector Dinesh Kadam, Byculla police station, “We conduct regular combing operations between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m. to crack down on anti-social and criminal elements. A team of around 20 personnel was doing the same when they saw a group of eight to ten Nigerians gathered in a corner. When our personnel approached, one of the Nigerians fired in their direction.”
Mr. Kadam said the police fired two rounds at the Nigerians, and they began to flee.
“They started running towards Byculla railway station but our personnel nabbed three of them. The rest of the police team chased the others into the station, where two more were caught on Platform Number 1. The others, meanwhile, jumped through an empty rake and reached the other side of the station compound. Our team followed them,” Mr Kadam said.
Two others were caught as they were trying to jump over the metal railing of the station premises, while the rest of them managed to flee, the police said.
Meanwhile, the police team apprised the police control room of the situation and additional reinforcements were rushed. All the seven accused were brought to the police station.
“We have seized 550 grams of mephedrone, 110 grams of brown sugar and 11 grams of cocaine along with a .32 bore foreign made pistol, three live rounds, a dagger, 11 cell phones and ₹41,000 in cash from the accused. Three of them sustained injuries while trying to jump over the metal railing, while four of our constables were injured in the scuffle. All are out of danger,” Mr. Kadam said.
