Balasore: Police arrested 11 accused persons in connection with attack on Balasore Sub-Collector Kunal Motiram Chavan and his driver near Dahapada in Balasore district yesterday.

Of 11 accused persons, three were women. The search operation is underway at Dahapada and Kantabania areas under Sahadevkhunta police limits to nab others involved in the attack, Balasore police said today.

According to reports, around 10-12 sand mining mafias suddenly attacked the 32-year-old IAS officer in broad daylight while he was checking documents of a sand-laden truck near Fuladi Kantabania in Balasore district on Friday.

The sand mafias made a murderous attack with bricks and sharp fatal weapons on the 2020-batch IAS officer Kunal Motiram Chavan and his driver opposing the raid on the truck, which was suspected to be transporting sand without necessary papers.

However, Chavan and his driver survived in the incident. Later, the attackers fled from the area.

The duo was admitted to the Balasore District Headquarters Hospital for treatment. They were discharged from the hospital after treatment.

Speaking on the incident, Balasore collector Dattatreya Bhausaheb Shinde said that the district administration had conducted raids in Mandarpur and Dahapada areas on Thursday night based on an information about illegal sand mining in Budhabalanga River and seized several tipper trucks, tractors and JCBs used in the illegal activities. Chavan was sent to the area on Friday to calculate the value of the seized sand. The sand mafias attacked him near Dahapada when he was checking the papers.

Taking action against illegal sand mining, the Collector directed to raze bricklins to the ground at Dahapada area today. At least two platoons of police forces have been deployed at the site for the demolition drive.