CHENNAI: The Tambaram police shot and arrested a notorious gangster who allegedly attacked a head constable while attempting to escape after he was caught with ganja near the Vandalur forest area during the early hours of Sunday.

The Vandalur Otteri police received a tip-off around midnight on Saturday that gangsters were smuggling ganja in the Mannivakkam-Karisankal forest area. Following the information, a special team began intensive surveillance in the locality.

Around 2 am on Sunday, the police team rounded up gangsters Selvam alias Selvakumar and Kanagaraj, both from Vandalur Otteri, hiding in the forest with nearly 20 kg of ganja. The police surrounded the duo and apprehended them at gunpoint.

While the duo was being shifted to a police vehicle with the contraband, Selvakumar pulled out a hidden knife and slashed head constable Anandharaj before trying to flee. A sub-inspector with the special team opened fire, shooting Selvakumar in the leg. Both the injured gangster and head constable Anandharaj were rushed to the Tambaram Government hospital for treatment.

Senior officers, including the Tambaram City Police Commissioner, inspected the scene and are supervising the investigation. The police are investigating other associates involved in the smuggling network.

Both the arrested men are listed as 'A+' category history sheeters. Police said they are also the prime accused in the February 2024 murder of a DMK functionary, Aaramudhan, in Vandalur. Further investigations are ongoing.