In a brazen assault on law enforcement, a police team was attacked by alleged sand smugglers in Yavatmal district on Thursday morning. The incident occurred near the Pus river in Wakodi village, located in the Mahagaon taluka.
Police Inspection Turns Violent
The team, led by Assistant Police Inspector (API) Sunil Ambhore, had arrived at the riverbed to investigate reports of illegal sand mining. Upon arrival, they witnessed sand being illegally loaded into a tractor. When API Ambhore moved to intercept the vehicle, the situation escalated rapidly.
Instead of complying, a group of five individuals involved in the smuggling operation turned on the officers and launched a violent attack. In the ensuing scuffle, API Ambhore sustained significant injuries to his forearm.
Officer Fires Warning Shots in Self-Defense
Fearing for the safety of himself and his colleagues, API Ambhore was forced to use his service weapon. He discharged two rounds into the air as a defensive measure, which caused the attackers to flee the scene. The injured officer was promptly rushed to the Savana Government Rural Hospital for medical treatment, where his condition is reported to be serious.
Confirming the sequence of events, Ashok Thorat, Additional Superintendent of Police, stated that the API fired the shots purely in self-defense after the team received a tip-off about smuggling activities at the Wakodi sand ghat.
Police Crackdown and Arrests
Following the attack, authorities launched a swift crackdown in the area. To prevent any further incidents, a heavy police contingent along with a riot control squad was deployed. By the end of the day, the police had successfully apprehended two of the accused involved in the assault. Investigations are ongoing to track down the remaining suspects.
This violent episode highlights the ongoing challenges and dangers faced by police in curbing the rampant and often lucrative illegal sand mining operations across the region.
