India, March 28 -- Two drug smugglers were arrested after an encounter at a police checkpoint (naka) on the Mansa-Barnala road on Friday morning.

Acting on a tip-off, the Barnala police's crime investigation agency (CIA) unit, led by inspector Baljit Singh, put up the naka and intercepted a black Hyundai Verna car at 6.15am. Instead of complying with the police signal to stop, the driver sped, while his accomplice opened fire on the CIA team.

Police sources said that the smugglers fired five rounds with a bullet hitting the police vehicle and another striking a barricade.

The police retaliated and one of the smugglers, Veerbhadar Singh, alias Kalu, suffered a gunshot wound in a leg. He was sent to a local hospital, while his accomplice...