SHAHKOT
The Shahkot police have booked eighteen persons on charges of attacking government officials and illegal sand mining.
Investigating officer (IO) Balvir Chand said that the accused have been identified as Amarjit, Jeeta, and Bhindu residents of Pandher village in Nakodar, Suraj of Talwandi Madho, Raja a resident of Kotla village in Nakodar, Saif Ali, Shaily Gujjar, and Raja driver and their 10 unidentified accomplices.
Narinder Kumar Jain, Chief Engineer Drainage cum Mining and Geology, Water Resources Department Punjab Chandigarh complained to the police that the accused were indulging in illegal sand mining in the River Sutlej near Rame village Dhussi Bandh on July 5.
A team of mining department officials led by junior engineer cum mining inspector Rohit Singh reached on the spot and asked the accused to stop illegal sand mining. But the accused attacked government officials and ransacked official vehicles and thus obstructed officers in the discharge of public functions.
IO said that a case under sections 148,149(rioting) 323(voluntarily causing hurt) ,186(obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions),353(criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) and 427(mischief) of the Indian Penal Code and section 21 of the Punjab Mining Act has been registered against the accused and raids are being conducted to nab them.