At least 10 people were arrested for their alleged role in attempting to mow down a tehsildar-cum-executive magistrate with a tractor while the former was conducting a raid against illegal soil mining in Odisha’s Jajpur district.
The incident occurred on Saturday in the Korei area, leaving the officer, Vyasanagar Tehsildar Prashant Kumar Panda, with serious injuries.
Police have arrested the 10 accused and seized seven tractors along with two JCB machines that were allegedly used in the illegal operation, an official said.
The arrested have been booked under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and provisions of the Odisha Minor Mineral Concession (Amendment) Rules.
“We have arrested ten persons, including eight drivers, for their alleged involvement in the murderous attack on Vyasa Nagar tehsildar on duty after conducting raids at different locations of their hideout. Besides, we have seized seven tractors and two JCB machines used in the illegal mining of minor minerals,” said Jajpur SP Yash Pratap Shrimal.
Following the arrest, the accused were produced before a local court on Sunday. After the rejection of their bail applications, they were remanded to judicial custody, the police said.
Acting on a tip-off regarding unauthorised soil extraction, a team led by Panda conducted a raid in the Korei area on Saturday. During the operation, the miscreants allegedly rammed a tractor into the officer, police said.
Panda, who sustained serious injuries during the attack, was initially admitted to the Korei Community Health Centre (CHC) and later transferred to a hospital in Cuttack for advanced medical treatment.
