Attack On Balasore Sub-Collector In Odisha By Sand Mafia: 11 Arrested

Balasore: Eleven persons have been arrested in connection with the attack on Balasore sub-collector Kunal Motiram Chavan and his driver during a drive against illegal sand mining in the northern Odisha district.

While two accused persons were arrested after the incident on Friday, nine more were apprehended by Sahadevkhunta police on Saturday, sources said.

Chavan, a 2020 batch IAS officer, and his driver Gagan Bihari Das (50), came under attack from locals and sand mafia near Dahapada village under the jurisdiction of Sahdevkhunta police station station.
Over a dozen people, including women, hurled stones at the officer opposing the government action against illegal sand mining.

Soon after the incident, the police had launched a massive hunt for those involved in the attack. After arresting two persons in  connection with the incident, police had intensified the effort is to nab the others and nine more were apprehended later. All the attackers have been identified, sources said.

Police personnel in strength have been deployed in the area to prevent any untoward incident.  Stringent action will be taken against the perpetrators, said a police official.

While the sub-collector has sustained minor injuries, his driver suffered injury on his head. He is stated to be stable.

A huge quantity of illegally mined sand, machines used to extract them and vehicles used to transport the sand have been seized by the district administration, the sources said, adding that the sub-collector had gone to the area to take stock of the items seized.

The IAS officer got down on the way after noticing a truck loaded with sand on a bridge when a group of people pelted stones at him, the sources said.

A day after the incident, the sub-collector was seen in action mode on Saturday as the administration intensified the drive against illegal activities in and around Dahapada.

At least three illegal brick kilns were demolished as the administration imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC. Adequate police force was deployed in the area and the Tehsildar of Balasore Sadar  monitored the operation at the spot, the sources added.