KADAPA: A night checking operation turned violent at Duvvuru in Mydukuru constituency during the early hours of Thursday after a notorious red sanders smuggler attacked police personnel with a knife, injuring a constable.
In self-defence, Chapadu Sub-Inspector Chinna Peddayya fired three rounds from his service weapon—discharging two warning shots into the air before opening fire at the fleeing suspect’s legs, injuring the prime suspect, Sheikh Chimparti Zakir.
According to Kadapa District Superintendent of Police (SP) Shelke Nachiket Vishwanath, Chapadu SI Chinna Peddayya and his team were conducting routine vehicle checks near Jagananna Colony around 1 am when an Eicher truck and a Swift Dzire car approached.
Upon spotting the police party, the occupants attempted to flee while pelting stones and sticks at the officers. Police identified the most-wanted smuggler Zakir inside the car. When police closed in, Zakir attacked Constable E. Chennaiah (PC 1789) with a knife, causing injuries to his left hand.
Despite repeated warnings to surrender, Zakir attempted another attack, forcing SI Chinna Peddayya to fire two warning rounds into the air. As the suspect continued his assault and attempted to break away, the SI fired a third round targeting the fleeing attacker’s legs, striking Zakir in the left leg to disable him.
Following the standoff, police arrested Zakir and an accomplice, Mangapatnam Sudhakar of Chapadu, while four other syndicate members—identified as Mapeer, Charlie, Balappa, and Sheikh Roon—managed to escape under the cover of darkness.
Police seized 7 red sanders logs weighing 161 kg valued at Rs 3.50 lakh from the truck, along with the two vehicles, a knife, sticks, and stones. SP Vishwanath stated that Zakir is a habitual offender involved in 99 criminal cases across the state, including murder, attempted murder, and 82 red sanders smuggling cases, having previously been invoked under the PD Act four times.
Injured constable Chennaiah was admitted to Mydukuru Government Hospital, where SP Vishwanath visited him to assure him of the department’s full support. At the same time, Zakir was shifted to Kadapa Government General Hospital for treatment.
