In a brazen attack on government officials, an earthmover operator and a tipper truck driver were arrested on Sunday in Krishnagiri district. The duo stands accused of attempting to murder a tahsildar and three deputy tahsildars who intercepted their illegal sand smuggling operation from Anandur lake.
Dramatic Confrontation at the Lake
The incident unfolded on Saturday evening near Dadhampatty, close to Pochampally. Acting on a complaint received by District Collector Dinesh Kumar, a team of revenue officials led by Uthangarai Tahsildar Rajalakshmi visited the site for inspection. The team included deputy tahsildars Sahadeva, Nagendran, Shakthi, and Jayapal, along with revenue inspector Rathi.
Upon arrival, the officials discovered an earthmover actively loading soil onto a parked tipper truck. When the team moved forward to seize the heavy machinery and the vehicle, the situation turned violent. In a desperate and dangerous move, the operator of the earthmover swung the machine's bucket directly at the officials in an attempt to attack and kill them.
Arrest After a Tense Chase
Tahsildar Rajalakshmi described the harrowing experience, stating that after a prolonged struggle, the officials managed to turn off the earthmover. However, both the operator and the truck driver fled the scene. The Pochampally police were immediately informed and they seized the earthmover and the tipper truck.
The investigation took a technological turn as police tracked the suspects' mobile phone signals. Pochampally Inspector Gopalakrishnan confirmed that a special police team located and arrested the duo while they were hiding on a hill next to Tirupattur.
The arrested individuals were identified as Suresh (35) of Kili Chengampatti, the earthmover operator, and Thangapalu (32) of Periyasamy, Sengaluneepatti, the tipper truck driver.
Multiple Charges and Judicial Custody
Based on the formal complaint filed by Tahsildar Rajalakshmi, the police registered a comprehensive case under five serious sections of the law. The charges include:
- Obstructing government officials from performing their duty.
- Attempt to murder.
- Use of explosives (in the context of the machinery as a weapon).
- Plundering mineral resources without government permission.
- Soil theft.
Both accused were produced before a court and have been remanded to judicial custody, marking a significant step in the legal proceedings against the alleged sand smugglers.
