The Telangana government on Sunday announced a compensation of Rs 1 crore and a government job to a family member of Excise Constable Gajula Soumya, who died after being critically injured in an attack by ganja smugglers in Nizamabad district.

Soumya, 25, succumbed to her injuries at the Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) in Hyderabad on Saturday night, after battling for life for several days. She was seriously injured while attempting to stop an illegal ganja transportation operation during the course of her duty.

Excise Minister Jupally Krishna Rao expressed deep grief over the constable’s death and described her as a brave officer who made the ultimate sacrifice while enforcing the law. He assured that the state government would stand firmly with her family and extend all possible support during this difficult time.

The minister announced that along with the ex-gratia amount, one eligible member of Soumya’s family would be provided a government job as part of the relief measures. He also said the incident had raised serious concerns over the safety of excise personnel operating in the field.

Referring to the January 23 incident, officials said Soumya was hit by a vehicle used by ganja traffickers when she tried to stop them in Nizamabad. She suffered severe injuries and was rushed to NIMS in Hyderabad for advanced treatment, where she later died.

In the wake of the incident, the Excise Minister indicated that excise personnel deployed in enforcement duties would be provided weapons and enhanced protection to prevent such attacks in future.

Your courage knows no death: Sajjanar

Hyderabad Police Commissioner Sajjanar paid tribute to Excise Constable Gajula Soumya, who died after being critically injured while attempting to stop ganja traffickers in Nizamabad.

Sajjanar lauded Soumya’s bravery and dedication to duty, saying, “Your courage has no death, Soumya! You faced death itself to stop the drug menace. Even while bleeding, you did not abandon your duty. Your unparalleled sacrifice is a salute to society. When traffickers struck you with a vehicle without mercy, it shows how aggressive the drug mafia has become and how severe the threat of narcotics is. Soumya’s death is not just a tragedy, it is a warning to society.”

He emphasized that her heroism highlights the risks faced by law enforcement personnel in tackling illegal drug operations. Sajjanar extended his heartfelt condolences to Soumya’s family and said the government and police remain committed to ensuring the safety of officers on duty.