Tragic End for Brave Excise Constable in Nizamabad Drug Bust Operation
In a heartbreaking incident that has sent shockwaves across Telangana, 24-year-old Excise constable Gajula Soumya lost her life after being deliberately run over by a vehicle carrying illegal ganja during a late-night operation in Nizamabad. The young officer, described by colleagues as exceptionally brave and energetic, succumbed to her injuries after a nine-day battle for survival at Hyderabad's Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS).
A Life of Promise Cut Short
Gajula Soumya came from a modest background in Mosra, a small town located 18 kilometers from Nizamabad. Her parents, G Saiyulu and Chandrakala, make their living by selling masala packets in the local market. After graduating from Nishita Degree College in Nizamabad, Soumya pursued her dream of joining law enforcement and successfully qualified as a constable in the Excise Department in March 2024.
"She was eager to join the police force or the Excise department," her brother Sravan recalled emotionally. "Once she started earning, the financial condition of our family improved significantly. She took care of our parents and me. My parents are completely lost without her."
The Fateful Night Operation
According to Deputy Commissioner V Somi Reddy, Soumya's senior officer, the department had received specific intelligence about two four-wheelers transporting packets of ganja through Nizamabad town. An inspector and his team proceeded to intercept the suspect vehicles near Madhavpur village.
"One of our vehicles blocked the road, forcing the first car to stop," Reddy explained. "When the inspector attempted to open the vehicle's door, the driver suddenly accelerated and veered directly toward Constable Soumya, who was positioned on the opposite side where the second vehicle had stopped. She was crushed under the vehicle, which subsequently collided with a pole."
Medical Battle and Ultimate Sacrifice
Soumya was immediately rushed to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries. Doctors performed emergency surgeries, removing her damaged kidney and spleen. She also suffered from broken ribs and severe liver damage. As her condition deteriorated, she was transferred to NIMS in Hyderabad, where she spent nine days on ventilator support and multi-organ life support systems before passing away on Saturday evening.
Dr. N Lakshmi Bhaskar, Additional Medical Superintendent at NIMS, stated in an official bulletin: "All necessary medical interventions and advanced life-support measures were provided by a multi-disciplinary team of specialists. Despite sustained and best possible efforts, the patient could not be revived and was declared deceased on 31st January 2026 at 9.41 p.m."
Outpouring of Grief and Condemnation
The tragic incident has sparked widespread outrage across Telangana, with several prominent figures expressing their condolences and demanding enhanced safety measures for security personnel on duty. Women and Child Welfare Minister Dansari Anasuya and Telangana Jagruthi leader K Kavitha both strongly condemned the attack, with Kavitha personally visiting Soumya during her hospitalization on January 26.
Hyderabad Police Commissioner V C Sajjanar paid a moving tribute, stating: "Your courage is immortal. Yours was a supreme courage that defied death itself to stop the monstrous menace of drugs! Yours was an unparalleled sacrifice, holding onto your duty even while bleeding profusely! A salute to your courage, for not even hesitating to sacrifice your life for the protection of society!"
Investigation and Aftermath
Senior Excise Department officials were present at Gandhi Hospital on Sunday morning where Soumya's post-mortem was conducted. Her body will be transported to her native place for the final rites.
In connection with the incident, two individuals were arrested on the night of January 23, with two kilograms of ganja seized from their vehicle. Nirmal district police apprehended another accused two days later, while a fourth suspect remains at large.
The brutal killing of Constable Soumya has highlighted the dangerous realities faced by law enforcement officers combating drug trafficking in the region. Her colleagues remember her as a dedicated officer who never hesitated to face danger, while her family mourns the loss of their brightest hope for a better future.
