Five forest department personnel, engaged in the early morning patrol, escaped unhurt after suspected members of sand mafia allegedly hit their car with a sand-laden tractor trolley in a bid to avoid interception in the forest area in Tekulapally mandal of Bhadradri Kothagudem district in the early hours of January 9, 2024.
The incident exposed the aggressive tactics of the sand mafia, which is active in Bommanapally and its surrounding villages endowed with abundant waterbodies, abutting the reserve forests in Tekulapally mandal, to evade the forest squads, sources said.
The Yellandu forest range officials booked the driver and three other occupants of the tractor trolley that intentionally rammed into the forest squad’s car from behind.
