Bhubaneswar, (Reporterspen), Sept 25: (Mines News) A mining officer, Pitambar Mohanta, stationed at the Deputy Director of Mines’ office in Odisha’s Koraput district, was allegedly attacked on Wednesday while conducting a crackdown on illegal stone and sand smuggling operations.
According to a complaint filed by the Assistant Mining Officer, the attack occurred early in the morning after he detained seven vehicles involved in illegal sand smuggling, including six hyva trucks and one tractor.
Upon learning of the incident, local Town Police swiftly arrived at the scene to initiate an investigation and moved the seized vehicles to the Railway Police Ground for safekeeping. The attackers, believed to be the owners of the illegal stone quarries, have since been detained by authorities.
This incident highlights the ongoing challenges faced by officials in combating illegal mining activities in the region. The police are working diligently to gather further evidence and ensure accountability for those involved in the attack.
