Gambling den operator attacks probationary IPS officer in Maha

A probationary IPS officer and her team was attacked and her service pistol snatched allegedly by the operators of a gambling den in Kolhapur in Maharashtra, police said Tuesday.

The gambling den located at Yadav Nagar in Rajarampuri area of the western Maharashtra city, around 375 kms from here, was raided Monday night by probationary IPS officer Aishwarya Sharma and her team, a police official said.

One Salim Mulla, who is also a supporter of a political party, is the operator of the den.

During the raid, Mulla and his aides attacked the officer and her team, the official said, adding that a police constable was injured in a scuffle at the spot.

"One of the accused snatched the service pistol of the officer. He pointed it at the direction of the officer and other police personnel, and threatened them," he said, adding that the accused fled with the weapon and five rounds.

Police also raided the residence of Mulla and his wife Shama Mulla, a former deputy mayor of Kolhapur, he said.

The official said Mulla vandalised his own house and blamed police for the act.

After receiving information about the incident, Kolhapur superintendent of police Abhinav Deshmukh and other senior police officers rushed to the spot and detained at least 16 people, he said.

During the search operation, police found some incriminating documents from Mulla's residence.

A case has been registered under sections 395 (Punishment for dacoity), 307 (Attempt to murder), and 353 (Assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), he said.