Sand mafia tries to mow down revenue official in Maha village

Aurangabad, Aug 11: A revenue official, posted in Hingoli district, had a narrow escape when the suspected members of a sand mining mafia allegedly tried to mow him down in Patonda village, over 200 kms from here, police said on Sunday.

Vidyacharan Kadvalkar, the tehsildar, had received an tip-off yesterday that an illegal mining activity was going in the Valughat area of the village, they said.

He visited the spot along with sub-divisional officer Vaijnath Bhalerao and other local officials. On seeing Kadvalkar and others, members of the sand mafia tried to escape from the spot.

When the Tehsildar asked them to stop, driver of one the tractors tried to crush him down under his vehicle. However, Kadvalkar saved himself by jumping into a nearby pit, police said.

Driver of the tractor as well as its owner have been booked on the charge of attempt to murder, police said, adding that two tractors have also been impounded from the spot.

PTI