The Nilgiri Tehsildar and staffers faced the wrath of some members of a sand mafia when they reached a spot near the Sono river in Baleswar district where sand was illegally lifted on Thursday.
Reports said a dispute arose between a leasee and the mafia members, when the latter started lifting sand from a patch allotted to the former. This led to a volatile situation in the faceoff between the two groups. Getting information, Tehsildar Asesh Nayak rushed to the spot and seized a sand-laden tractor.
But the gang members attacked him and the others staffs and even vandalised the official’s vehicle in presence of police. It is alleged that the gang members have the support of a political party. Later, Nayak lodged an FIR with police and investigations are on.
The incidences of sand lifting and targeting of Government officials have become a routine in Nilgiri area.
Notably, on June 11 night when the Sub-Collector and Nilgiri Tehsildar reached a site where illegal sand lifting was in progress, they too had faced stiff resistance from a mob.