Nilagiri: A day after members of the stone mafia attacked Sajanagad revenue inspector (RI) here in Balasore district, the officials of the administration and police personnel raided Tuesday the area and the houses of those associated with illegal stone mining. Nilagiri sub-collector, tehsildar and the local IIC along with a police team carried out the raids. They seized a compressor machine, a tractor, a jeep and several equipment used for stone mining and carrying out blasts. The raids have struck terror among the stone mafia groups in the area.
The stone mafia have been ruling the roost in Ramitrapur near Swarnachud hill, Chainapal, Begunia, Mahisapatta and Baghamara areas under Nilagiri tehsil.
Reports said illegal blasting was being carried out in a hill under Nilagiri tehsil. Tehsildar Ashesh Kumar Nayak got information about the illegal blasts and sent Sajanagad RI Santosh Kumar Behera to look into the matter. A person and his son were transporting illegally extracted stone from a quarry. He had recorded illegal activities on his cell phone and was heading back to the office when the duo attacked the latter with an iron rod.
They also took away his cell phone and wallet containing Rs 4,000. Behera also suffered minor injuries due to the attack. The imperiousness associated with the attack on the RI forced the administration to take serious note of the matter.