No mafia will be tolerated in Chhattisgarh, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel declared on Saturday, after men illegally mining sand assaulted a Zila Panchayat member with iron rods, canes and belts for opposing their activities.
Baghel directed the police and district administration to take stern action against all types of mafia.
On Thursday night, villagers of Joratarai (Dhaba) in Dhamtari district complained to Zila Panchayat member Khooblal Dhruve that illegal mining of sand was in progress.
Dhruve and his colleagues rushed to the spot with around 30 people and objected to the illegal mining.
It is said that the BJP Zila Panchayat member and five others were seized and taken to a room and beaten up with iron rods, cane and belts by the criminals who also made a video of the assault. Dhruve's hand was fractured.
They later lodged a complaint with the Rudri police station. Dhamtari Superintendent of Police B.P. Rajbhanu said seven persons involved in the violence had been arrested.