Geologist attacked by history-sheeter

VADODARA: A geologist of mines and minerals department of the state government was beaten up near Godhra on Friday morning by an accused, who has a series of robbery offences registered against him in the state and even outside. An attempt by the geologist to stop illegal pilferage of sand from riverbed is said to be the reason for the incident.
Ramesh Jiva Vankar, an accused involved in around 50 offences of robbery and other crimes, allegedly attacked Panchmahal geologist Nirav Barot.The officer had stopped a truck and a tractor trolley near Bhamaiya on Godhra-Ahmedabad highway.
Barot was checking vehicles carrying sand, which is a routine exercise. He stopped two vehicles on the basis of suspicion and found some anomalies in the quantity of sand and documents. Vankar rushed to the spot in a car and threatened Barot. He later beat him up with a stick.
Godhra B Division police inspector B V Gohil said the tractor trolley belonged to Vankar. He added that Vankar was booked for attempt to murder amongst other offences.
According to the police, Vankar was last arrested in 2010 in connection with a series of offences registered against him. Before this he was arrested in 2009, but had managed to give Bharuch police a slip and escaped.
Gohil said Barot has an injury in his arm, but is not in a serious condition. State health minister Prabhat Patel, who was in Godhra to attend a Garib Kalyan Mela also met Barot at the hospital.