Chidambaram pats NCB official for act of bravery

MUMBAI, June 19: Despite his busy schedule, Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram during his Mumbai visit found time to go to Leelavati hospital on Saturday morning to acknowledge the heroic effort of a young intelligence officer of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) who braved bullets to nab drug traffickers. S G Kavitkar, who recieved a major injury during a combing operation, was assured by Chidambaram that his name would be recommended for the President’s Bravery Award.

At 3 pm on June 6, intelligence officers of the Narcotics Control Bureau, Mumbai Zonal Unit, received a tip-off that some West African nationals were trying to dispose off over 3 kgs heroine near Rajaram Badi chawl, Bandra.When the officers raided the premises, the Africans resisted. In self-defence, one of the officers took out his service pistol, but one of the Africans snatched it away and fired indiscriminately . One of the bullets hit Kavitkar in his abdomen and two pierced an accused, Kalolo.

Kavitkar was rushed to nearby Leelavati hospital and Kalolo was taken to Bhabha Hospital. A First Information Report (FIR) has been filed against the accused for obstructing government officers on duty and attempt to murder.

During the search operation, 1 kg of heroine of Pakistan origin was recovered. Two of the accused have been arrested and remanded to NCB custody, but the main accused, Lamini, is still at large. Zonal Director of NCB, Omprakash, said, “The officer nabbed two of the accused and seized 1 kg of heroin despite grave risk to his life.” But Kavitkar, currently under treatment at Leelavati hospital, maintained, “I was just doing my duty.”