10 arrested for trying to kill tehsildar in Jajpur dist during bid to stop illegal mining

Kendrapada: Police on Sunday arrested 10 members involved in illegal mining of minor minerals for allegedly running over and seriously injuring the Vyasanagar tehsildar during a raid in Jajpur district on Saturday.Prasana Kumar Panda (53) suffered serious injuries after he was run over by a tractor carrying minor minerals. The incident took place at Meena Bazaar Chowk, under Korei police station limits.Locals initially took Panda to the community health centre (CHC) in Korei from where he was shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack as his condition was serious.On Sunday, Itishree Senapati, revenue inspector (RI) of Tulati revenue circle filed an FIR at Korei police station. The complaint stated that she and Panda had gone to Fazalpur village to carry out an inquiry about illegal excavation of soil. On the way, near Meena Bazaar, they found two excavators and five tractors were illegally digging and transporting soil.When they tried to stop the illegal extraction, one tractor was suddenly driven at high speed towards them. Senapati said the tractor ran over the tehsildar with an intention to kill him. Panda sustained injury on his leg and other parts of body, while Senapati narrowly escaped.Acting on the complaint, police launched an investigation and arrested 10 people on Sunday. The arrested persons have been identified as Hidyatula Khan, Majit Ahamat Khan, Kirttan Jena, Manir Mohammad, Sk Chanda, Pinkun Penthei, Jitendra Behera, Sk Sahil, Mitu Pariada and Sk Nayat, the tractor driver who tried to kill the tehsildar, said Rakesh Tripathy, the IIC of Korei police station.The accused were produced in court at Jajpur Road on Sunday. The court rejected their bail applications and remanded them in judicial custody.This incident has once again brought to light the growing trend of illegal sand and soil mining in the district. The sand mafia continue to plunder the riverbeds without obtaining any permission from authorities, alleged Amarbar Biswal, a social worker.Officially, sand mining is carried out only in about 45 reaches in the river beds of the district. But there are about 75 places where sand mafia is lifting sand illegally, he added.