‘Shoot them’: Gutka smugglers try to run over Maharashtra FDA officer on late-night raid

CHHATRAPATI SAMBHAJINAGAR: Two alleged gutka peddlers were arrested and charged with attempt to murder after they allegedly tried to run over a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officer during an early morning raid on Tuesday, and fled with a truck loaded with banned gutka in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district.

“The accused, Sunil Dhole, a 33-year-old from Tembhurni, and Sagar Zalke (25), from Jikthan, were produced before a court on Wednesday and remanded in police custody till Sunday,” inspector Shivcharan Pandhare, of the Waluj police station, said.

The case was registered on the complaint of food safety officer Pragya Surse. The Waluj police then booked Dhole and Zalke under multiple Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections, including attempt to murder. Overall, seven suspects have been named in the FIR.

According to the FIR, early on Tuesday morning, the FDA team was conducting enforcement action, under the directions of Food Safety commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, when they received a tip-off about a truck carrying 25 to 30 sacks of banned gutka parked near JK Roller Flour Mill at Rahimpur, in Gangapur taluka.

The team reached the spot around 1. 15am and began inspecting the vehicle. During the operation, officials noticed suspicious movement of several people on motorcycles and cars, allegedly keeping watch and relaying information over cellphones, raising fears of an imminent attack.

Sensing danger, the team alerted the Waluj police, but before help could arrive, a black vehicle with no registration plates stormed the spot, and its occupants allegedly launched an assault.

The complainant said that the attackers had shouted, “Shoot them, shoot them,” triggering panic among the officials.

The vehicle was then allegedly driven straight towards the FDA team. While most officials managed to jump out of the way, Surse stumbled while trying to escape.

According to the FIR, the driver then deliberately steered the vehicle towards her in an attempt to crush her. She narrowly escaped death in what the police described was a clear attempt to kill a govt officer on duty.

Amid the chaos, one of the accused allegedly drove the truck containing the suspected consignment of banned gutka away.

Following the incident, the police launched a search operation and arrested Dhole and Zalke from Limbejalgaon. Efforts are underway to trace the missing truck and identify other members of the gang involved in the attack.

The incident has raised serious concerns over the audacity of illegal gutka networks, with officials coming under direct and life-threatening attacks during routine enforcement action.