Keonjhar: A junior mining officer (JMO) and his driver were injured in an alleged attack by sand smugglers during a late-night inspection near Anandapur in Keonjhar district on Sunday.
JMO Suraj Hembram and his team were conducting an inspection of illegal sand mining operations along the Baitarani river near Anandapur bridge around 11 PM when the incident occurred. The team, which included two security personnel, was responding to a complaint received from Keonjhar.
“Miscreants in four to five vehicles intercepted us. They vandalised my vehicle, threatened us and physically attacked me and my driver,” said Hembram. The situation escalated when the officer attempted to conduct a routine check of a vehicle belonging to the smugglers.
The attackers reportedly threw the driver out from the vehicle during the assault. Hembram and the driver managed to escape and were subsequently admitted to the Anandapur sub-divisional hospital. Hospital authorities reported they were stable.
Ghasipura police have registered a case and launched an investigation to apprehend the attackers.