Three revenue officials of Jharsuguda district were seriously injured by Chhattisgarh sand mafias on Wednesday. Getting information, the police of Jharsuguda and Rengali rushed to the spot, rescued the and were inquiring into the matter.
Sources said that a revenue team comprising of lakhanpur Additional Tehsildar Baideb Behera, Kantipali RI Susil Rohidas, Additional RI Bisweswar Gardia and Peon Kisore were inquiring about illegal sand transaction in the sand ghat of Kanaktora Panchayat, when mafias and hundreds of their supporters, along with 25 Chhatisgarh tractors, were seen on the ghat. While the revenue officials were taking snaps of the gathering and tractors, they were suddenly attacked by the sand mafias and their supporters and injured Chantipali RI Sushil Rohidas and ARI B Gardia.
later they were admitted to lakhanpur CHC. Their mobile phones were snatched away and thrown into the river beds by mafias leaving them seriously injured using manual weapons.
When asked, the Additional Tehsildar said that anticipating law and order situation, he informed the matter to the local police.
Rengali police station OIC Purusottom Bhoi said due to road blockage the police could not reach the spot in time. However, the police forces have now taken the sand ghat under their control.