Soil mining row turns violent, cops attacked in Ballari village

Ballari: Two police personnel were injured, one of them seriously, after a group allegedly attacked them while they were attempting to arrest an accused in Kolagallu village of Ballari Rural hobli on Thursday.According to police, Civil Rights Enforcement Directorate personnel Veeresh Babu and Pandu went to the village to arrest Anil, the prime accused in a case linked to an earlier assault arising from a dispute over alleged illegal excavation and transportation of tank soil.Police said the personnel took Anil into custody from his residence and were preparing to escort him to the police station when a group of villagers allegedly intervened. Investigators suspect the attack was pre-planned.During the confrontation, Veeresh Babu was allegedly assaulted with iron rods and wooden sticks, sustaining severe injuries to his eye and other parts of his body. Pandu also sustained injuries in the attack.The injured personnel were shifted to VIMS Hospital in Ballari. Doctors reportedly said the injuries could have been life-threatening had the victim sustained a more severe blow to the head.Ballari Rural police have registered a case against around 10 persons on charges including assaulting govt employees and obstructing public servants from discharging official duties. A special operation has been launched to trace and arrest those involved.The arrest attempt was linked to a month-old dispute over the alleged illegal excavation and transportation of tank soil in the village. The case stems from an earlier assault on former village president Huliyappa, who opposed the activity. Cases were subsequently registered by both sides, including under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.