Two bootleggers killed in Gujarat

GANDHINAGAR - Two alleged bootleggers, including a woman, were killed and seven cops suffered injuries Wednesday when police raided an illegal liquor smuggling racket in a village in Gujarat, where consumption of alcohol is banned, police said.

Police opened fire after they came under an attack from villagers in Amrutpura in Mehsana district in north of the state.

According to police, they had gone on the raid on information that huge quantities of India-made foreign liquor, possibly from Rajasthan, was being smuggled into Gujarat.

As soon as police reached the village, the residents resisted with swords and stones.

At least seven police personnel were injured in the attack by the villagers, believed to be henchmen of the bootleggers.

The condition of one of the policemen was said to be critical, a police official said.