The rural police arrested eight persons on charges of attempting to murder a Village Administrative Officer who tried to prevent them from stealing sand from a government land in Thalaivasal here on Monday.
The police said that the VAO (in-charge), P. Manimaran, received information that a gang was involved in stealing sand at a place on Deviyakurichi – Thenkumarai Road in Attur Taluk. While nearing Kattukottai village, the VAO intercepted the tractor. But the tractor driver failed to stop the vehicle and tried to hit the VAO. But Mr. Manimaran escaped. The gang also allegedly abused him.
Later, Mr. Manimaran lodged a complaint with the Deviyakurichi police, who registered a case under Sections 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapon), 332 (voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty), 294 b (uttering obscene words in public place), 307 (attempt to murder) and 379 (theft) of IPC and under SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Ordinance, 2014.
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The police arrested B. Balakumar (32), N. Balasubramaniam (63), P. Sasikumar (41), N. Rajendran (42), B. Rajendran (30), V. Senthil alias Jegankumar (32), E. Madeshwaran (42), all of Deviyakurichi and D. Baghyaraj (25) from Mettur. They were produced in the court and lodged at district jail in Attur. An earthmover and two tractors were seized.