Balasore: In a shocking incident, the Moram mafia (red gravel smugglers) attacked Junior Mining Officer Abhishek Behera in Khaira area of Balasore district late last night. The attackers pelted stones at his official vehicle, smashed its glass, and threatened to kill him.
According to reports, Abhishek Behera, along with two policemen, was on patrol duty in the Kupari area after receiving information about illegal gravel smuggling at night. When they reached near Sundarpur Chowk, a car and two bikes carrying the Moram mafia suddenly appeared and launched the attack. The miscreants stopped the officer’s vehicle, pelted stones heavily, and broke its glass.
The attackers issued direct death threats to the officer before fleeing from the spot. The terrified mining officer immediately drove his damaged vehicle to Khaira Police Station for safety. However, the mafia chased him and once again reached the police station premises, where they repeated their threat to kill him before escaping.
The Junior Mining Officer immediately lodged a complaint at Khaira Police Station and informed his senior officers. Following the incident, Junior Mining Officers from Nilagiri and Soro also reached the spot and conducted an on-ground investigation.
This attack has once again highlighted the growing boldness of the red gravel smuggling mafia in the Balasore region. In a related development, mining officers in the Soro area have also been accused of allegedly taking bribes and turning a blind eye to illegal mining activities.
Police have registered a case and started further investigation into the attack on the mining officer.
