Bhubaneswar, 4 June (H.S.): In a significant development following the violent assault on a revenue official in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district, police have arrested three individuals in connection with the attack allegedly carried out by members of the sand mafia. The incident occurred near the Kaptipada police station on June 2.

The arrested accused have been identified as Aakash Nayak, Manas Puhana, and Rajat Mohanty. They were apprehended from the Kaptipada market area. According to police sources, over 20 others believed to be involved in the incident are currently absconding, and a manhunt has been launched to trace and apprehend them. The investigation is ongoing.

The attack took place when Kaptipada Additional Tehsildar Bhimkant Majhi was en route to conduct a raid on an illegal sand mining operation along the Suno riverbed, based on specific intelligence inputs. As his official driver was unavailable, Majhi proceeded alone in his personal vehicle. However, a group of more than 20 individuals on motorcycles intercepted and pursued him.

In a desperate bid to save himself, Majhi drove towards the Kaptipada police station. Shockingly, the miscreants caught up with him right in front of the locked police station gate. There, they physically assaulted him, grabbed him by the collar, and hurled bricks and stones at his vehicle, damaging both the front and rear windshields. The gang fled the scene shortly thereafter.

Majhi sustained head injuries in the attack and was subsequently hospitalised. He later filed a formal complaint with the police, leading to the registration of a case.

CCTV footage of the incident, now circulating on social media, has sparked widespread public outrage and raised serious questions about the law and order situation in the region. The footage reportedly shows the attackers acting with brazen impunity, right in front of law enforcement infrastructure.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda