Jajpur: Police on Sunday arrested seven persons for their alleged involvement in an attack on a tehesildar in Odisha’s Jajpur district.
This comes a day after Vyasanagar Tehsildar Prashant Kumar Panda sustained serious injuries after he was allegedly assaulted and run over by a tractor while trying to stop illegal excavation and transportation of minor minerals at Meena Bazaar Chhak.
Korei police have arrested the owner, driver of the tractor and four others, and seized five tractors and two JCB machines.
According to sources, the incident took place when the Tehsildar attempted to intercept a soil-laden tractor. Panda fell down as a scuffle ensued, following which driver of the tractor allegedly ran over his right foot and sped away. He was rushed to the community health centre (CHC) at Korei, from where he was referred to SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack, where his condition remains critical.
A case was registered under Sections 132 (assault or criminal force to deter a public servant from duty) and 109 (attempt to murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), besides provisions of the Odisha Minor Mineral Concession (Amendment) Rules, according to which lifting of soil or sand without prior permission is illegal.
