A suspected drug smuggler, identified as 36-year-old Bhutto, was killed in an exchange of fire with police in Pali district, Rajasthan, officials said on Friday.
The Anti-Narcotic Task Force (ANTF) received intelligence that narcotics were being transported in two vehicles. Acting on the tip-off, the team began pursuing the vehicles. According to Inspector General ANTF Vikas Kumar, one vehicle managed to escape, while the second was stopped using a spike strip to puncture its tyres.
“During the stop, the accused in the vehicle opened fire on our team. In retaliatory firing, the suspect, Bhutto, sustained bullet injuries and was rushed to a hospital in Pali, where he was declared dead,” Kumar said.
Authorities recovered a narcotic substance (doda chura), a pistol, and several live cartridges from the vehicle. Another individual traveling with Bhutto has been detained for questioning.
Kumar noted that Bhutto was involved in multiple criminal cases, including a previous incident in 2023 in Rajsamand, where he fired at police. The investigation is ongoing to determine the full scope of the drug smuggling operation.
