A black Scorpio roared down the Malpur‑Modasa highway near Mordungari village, slamming into an LCB mobile van before the driver accelerated and made a frantic U‑turn. Police officers fired warning shots as the vehicle attempted to evade capture, and the driver responded by pointing a pistol at the officers, firing two rounds that ricocheted into the air. Inspector M.H. Zala, who was on duty, returned fire, striking the driver’s calf before the suspect slipped away from the scene.
The chase ended when 22 gunny bags of poppy straw were found inside the vehicle, weighing a total of 429.38 kg gross and 425.8 kg net after removing 3.58 kg of plastic packaging. Police estimated the contraband at ₹63.87 lakh, and the vehicle—a black Scorpio with a false registration—was valued at ₹20 lakh. The seized package also contained two pistols, 11 live cartridges, a fired bullet, and several mobile phones.
Rajuram Jangu, also known as Bishnoi, hailed from Dhorimana in Rajasthan’s Barmer district. He was quickly apprehended after sustaining a gunshot wound to the right calf. After receiving medical treatment at a local hospital, he was taken into custody by the Malpur police. The suspect’s accomplice, Sureshkumar Bishnoi, escaped during the chaos, with police still searching for him.
Investigators say the poppy straw was smuggled from Mandsaur in Madhya Pradesh, traversing Gujarat to Barmer—a corridor that has seen several drug‑trafficking operations in the past year. The route’s popularity stems from its limited border patrol and the ease of using false vehicle registrations to conceal shipments.
Local farmer Ramesh Patel, whose family has long suffered from the dangers of drug trafficking in the area, praised the police’s quick response. "Without their intervention, a large load of drugs could have flooded our community and harmed many families," Patel told reporters.
The incident has triggered a case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, the Arms Act, and several other statutes. Police are actively seeking Sureshkumar and the unidentified supplier from Mandsaur, and a trial is slated for the next quarter.