BHABUA, Feb. 27 -- Five policemen, including a station house officer (SHO) and a woman constable, were injured during attack and firing by a narcotics smuggler and his supporters at Kajhar Ghat village under Kudra police station area of Kaimur district late on Wednesday night.

The assailants also tried to snatch police forearms and set their vehicle ablaze, compelling the police to open fire in self-defence. A villager was shot at and critically injured after being caught in the crossfire while returning after irrigating wheat fields. He had been admitted in a super speciality hospital in Varanasi and an officer had been sent to take his statement, police said.

The supporters of the narcotics smuggler, mostly women and children, allegin...