Sand mafias injure villagers after confrontation in Odisha’s Balasore

Tensions flared in Gilajodi village of Balasore district on Friday as some locals clashed with sand mafias attempting illegal extraction from the Subarnarekha riverbank under Basta police limits. Villagers confronted the illegal miners, resulting in a violent scuffle.

Also Read: Tehsildar brutally attacked by sand mafias in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj

Several people sustained grievous injuries. Some in critical condition were shifted to Balasore district headquarters hospital (DHH), while others were admitted to Basta hospital for treatment. Eyewitnesses reported chaos at the site as the confrontation escalated.

Police were deployed in the locality to control the situation and restore order. Authorities are investigating the violent incident, which has raised concerns about illegal sand mining activities and local safety in the region.

“Mafias at nearby sand quarries intercepted my son. They severely beat him and attacked him with a dagger. He ran away from there and managed to reach the village,” a woman resident, Jhunimani Jena, said.

“Sand mafias have goons, namely Pradeep Jena, Jiban Jena, and Dilip Jena, etc. They were armed with sharp weapons such as swords and billhooks. They even possessed firearms. Fortunately, we reached the scene, and hence they fled from the spot. Or else, they would have opened fire,” Gilajodi resident, Subash Jena, stated.

Worth mentioning, earlier in another incident, tension had flared in Baripada town three days ago after the newly-appointed Betanoti tehsildar was allegedly attacked by sand mafia. The incident had taken place soon after the official seized a vehicle illegally transporting sand in the locality in Mayurbhanj district.

It was said that the sand mafia had intercepted the tehsildar Indrajit Behera and launched an attack in retaliation. The officer’s driver had suffered head injuries after being struck by the assailant, who fled the scene following the assault.