JAJPUR: Police on Sunday arrested 10 people for their alleged involvement in the murderous attack on Vyasanagar tehsildar and executive magistrate Prashant Kumar Panda during a raid against illegal mining activities in Korei area of the district.
Jajpur SP Yash Pratap Shrimal said eight of the 10 accused are drivers. Police apprehended them after conducting raids at different locations in the district. Seven tractors and two earthmovers used in illegal mining of minor minerals were seized.
The accused are Hidyatula Khan, Majit Ahamat Khan, Kirtan Jena, Mitu Parida, Shaik Nayat and Manir Mohammad, all tractor drivers, Shaik Chanda, a tractor owner besides Pinkun Penthei and Jitendra Behera, both earthmover drivers. Shaik Sahil, the supervisor of Chanda’s vehicles, has also been arrested.
The accused were arrested under relevant sections of BNS and provisions of the Odisha Minor Mineral Concession (Amendment) Rules. They were produced in court and remanded in judicial custody, said police.
On Saturday, a team led by Panda raided a pond in Minabazar village under Vyasa Nagar tehsil after getting information about unauthorised digging and soil lifting. On spotting the tehsildar, miscreants allegedly involved in illegal mining reportedly rammed a tractor into him deliberately. While Panda sustained grievous injuries in the attack, the miscreants fled the scene.
The injured tehsildar was taken to Korei community health centre and later shifted to a private hospital in Cuttack for advanced treatment.
On receiving information, police reached the spot and launched an investigation. Two tractors and a JCB machine used in the illegal mining activities were seized immediately but the accused managed to flee.
Meanwhile, the incident has raised serious concerns regarding the safety of government officials engaged in enforcement activities against illegal mining in the region.
Officials said special squads have been constituted to check illegal mining of minor minerals in the district. Enforcement against illegal mining of minor minerals will be intensified in the coming days.