A drug smuggler was injured in police firing while he ‘tried to escape’ police custody at Bokajan in Assam’s East Karbi Anglong district late on Tuesday evening.

Police said, based on specific information regarding the movement of drug smugglers, a team of Karbi Anglong police intercepted a scooty bearing registration number AS 09H 4234 in the Matipul area of Bokajan and recovered 150 soapboxes containing 1.77-kilogram heroin from the vehicle.

Police also arrested two people identified as Bimol Tassa (23) and Saddam Hussain (26) in connection with the recovery.

Bimol Tassa is a resident of Gharialdubi in Bokajan while Saddam Hussain is a resident of Mairabari in Morigaon district.

The approximate value of the seized drugs is reported to be over 12 Crore in the black market.

Preliminary interrogation revealed that the arrested duo brought the seized drugs from Dimapur in Nagaland and was supposed to deliver the consignment at Naoghat under Sarupathar Sub-Division in Golaghat district.

Meanwhile, while returning to the police station after completing all formalities from the operation site, arrested accused Saddam Hussain felt uneasy and tried to get down from the police vehicle.

The police halted their vehicle and as soon as Saddam got down, he pushed the police personnel and tried to escape custody, claimed a police official.

The police personnel then fired two rounds at Saddam and one bullet pierced through his right leg.

He was immediately shifted to Bokajan CHC for treatment and his condition is stated to be stable.