Govt officials attacked for intercepting illegal sand transport in Godhra

VADODARA: Officials from the state mines and minerals department were attacked by four persons at Godhra in Panchmahals district on Sunday afternoon. The incident occurred when the officials tried to intercept five vehicles that were allegedly carrying sand without due permissions. The department had received a tip-off about the illegal transport of sand following which it kept eye on the highway near Nagdarka crossroads.
Police said assistant geologist Nirav Barot and other employees intercepted a truck and tractors near the crossroads. "They asked for permit but the drivers got into altercation with them," said the police. Two persons later came on a motorbike and attacked Barot and others. The accused then fled from the spot. A police complaint was registered at Vejalpur police station in which one of the accused has been identified as Changa Shaukat. Barot has given license registration number to the cops, who have now started a search for the accused.
Barot and his team from mines and minerals department were attacked in similar manner in June last year too, when they tried to stop illegal mining of sand from a river in Godhra. The mob had pelted stones at Barot and fled with a seized tractor.