Udupi, Apr 3: In a shocking development, Udupi deputy commissioner Priyanka Francis, assistant commissioner Shilpa Nag and their aides were allegedly attacked by the sand mining mafia at Kandlur in Kundapur of the coastal district during a raid last night.
The incident took place, when a team of officials including the DC and the AC went on a raiding spree against illegal sand mining in different parts of Kundapur taluk.
The team managed to detain six persons from an illegal sand extraction site at Halnad village. All the six accused were North Indians.
Later, the same team raided another illegal sand extraction site at Kandlur before midnight. This time a group of miscreants allegedly attacked them. The DC’s gunman, a village accountant, identified as Kantharaju, and two drivers were assaulted by the gang.
It is learnt that the DC and AC carried out the raids all of a sudden in a private car without informing the local police with the intention of keep the plan a secret.
The DC, who lodged a complaint at Udupi town police station in the wee hours of Monday, claimed that the sand miners also attempted to murder her and the AC. The police have already launched a probe and reportedly detained a few suspects.
Speaking to media persons, the DC said that they had to run away from the spot to save themselves from the assailants. The village accountant, who could not board the vehicle, was later rescued with the help of local police.
On the other hand, Bhaskar, a local resident, who is said to be one among those involved in illegal sand extraction at Kandlur, claimed that the officials assaulted him.
Bhaskar, who is currently undergoing treatment at a hospital in Kundapur, said that the DC and AC entered his house at night and harassed him. “Later, they dragged me out of the home and forcefully put me into a car. When they closed the door of the car all of a sudden, two of my fingers got chopped,” he said.
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