A police inspector was attacked allegedly by an extortion gang on Monday. The incident took place early morning at 4am, near a toll plaza in Bollapalli, Matur Mandal, Chirala.

Sub Inspector of Mattur police station, Nagamalleshwar Rao, sustained injuries to his shoulder and arm.

“The Inspector was on night patrolling. After receiving information of extortion by some miscreants, who were threatening lorry drivers and other motorists, he went to nab them. Noticing the police, the armed gang ran into the fields. However, the SI chased them, and they attacked him in a bid to escape,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police, Chirala, Dr Prem Kajal.

She said that police have launched a combing operation in the area to nab the culprits.

“The condition of the injured inspector is stable. He told us that it was a four-five member gang. There is no clarity yet. But we will nab the offenders soon,” she told TNM.