A Range Officer and a Forest Guard were attacked by a mob for stopping an illegal parking lot construction along the Konark-Puri marine drive on Monday.
Reports said the parking space was being constructed in the sanctuary area allegedly by Achyutpur sarpanch Bhakta Ballav Das and his supporters when Range Officer Benudhar Behera along with a Forest Guard reached the site. The officials seized a JCB machine engaged in the construction work and detained one person.
Sources said that on their way back to office, Behera and the Forest Guard were attacked by the sarpanch and his supporters. On the other hand, Achyutpur sarpanch said the parking space was being constructed on the direction of administration to ease parking problem arising due to the ongoing Eco Retreat Festival. He also refuted the allegations of the forest officials.
On the basis of the complaints of the both parties, the police launched a probe into the matter.