Ramdurg taluk tahsildar R.V. Katti suffered injuries to his hand when a tractor, allegedly belonging to illegal sand extractors, hit his jeep in Huligoppa village here on Monday night.
Revenue officials said the tahsildar had been tipped off about the activity and had rushed to the spot to stop it. The offenders saw the officer’s car approaching the site and tried to flee. Their tractor hit the car and the officer was injured. The tractor was empty and did not have any sand.
“The incident took place around 1.30 a.m.,” Mr. Katti told The Hindu . “I was in the taluk office as we were uploading data on crop failure and insurance claims of farmers. At around 1 a.m., someone called the taluk office and tipped us off about illegal sand extraction at Huligoppa village. I went there along with my driver. The tractor hit our jeep from behind. I was trying to open the door of the jeep and my right hand was injured,” he said.
The officer does not see it as an attempt at intimidation. “I am not under any political pressure, and nor have I received any threatening calls regarding sand extraction in my jurisdiction. I will continue to do my duty sincerely,” he said.
Mr. Katti, who was transferred to Ramdurg two months ago, has conducted raids on illegal sand extractors and seized two earthmovers, two trucks and five tipper machines till now.
Case of accident
The FIR filed by the Ramdurg police records the incident as an accident, not an assault. “The tractor’s right wheel hit the officer’s vehicle’s rear left wheel when the driver tried to take a steep curve in order to escape. When the tractor hit the jeep, the tractor driver jumped off his vehicle and ran away,” the FIR says. The police have seized the tractor.
“I don’t think the tractor driver hit the officer intentionally,” said Gopal Krishna Goudar, circle inspector of police, Ramdurg. He believes that the tractor driver did not know the tahsildar was in the jeep. “He tried to escape by turning the tractor around and accidentally hit the officers’ vehicle. Investigation will reveal if the driver had any associates,” he said.
Deputy Commissioner N. Jayaram said strict action would be taken against illegal sand extractors. Those responsible for attacks on officials will face legal action, he said.
According to revenue officials, there have not been any attacks by sand extractors or their associates on officials in the district till now. “However, officials have conducted raids and seized equipment,” the DC said.
