Sand mafia attacks Forest Department staff in Odisha’s Dhenkanal

Increasing cases of attacks on the Forest Department staff by sand mafia have become a source of headache for the administration. 

In the latest incident, a sand mafia attacked a Forest Department staff in Koriapal village under Kamakhyanagar Police limits of Dhenkanal district on Saturday. 

On being tipped off about illegal sand mining and smuggling from a riverbed near Koriapal village, a team from the Jiral Forest Department rushed to the spot. When they reached the spot, the tractor used for lifting sand sped away from the spot. They seized the materials used for mining and carrying sand from the riverbed. 

While returning, a sand mafia stopped them and attacked them, leaving one Forest Department staff injured.  Subsequently, the Forester of the Jiral forest section, Saroj Kumar Behera lodged a complaint at Kamakhyanagar Police Station.

“As we reached the spot, the tractor fled from the scene. We seized the equipment used for mining sand. When we were returning, Tapan Das and his associate stopped us and attacked us,” said forest official, Abhimanyu Rout. 

“Acting on a tip-off about illegal sand mining from the river bed, I along with my team reached the spot. However, the tractor used for smuggling sand fled from the spot.  On our way back, two persons stopped us and attacked one of our staff,” said Jiral Forester, Saroj Kumar Behera.