Mr. Om Kant Thakur, a 2020-batch IAS officer and Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of Mandi (Sadar), was assaulted during a surprise check for illegal mining on the banks of the Beas River in Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi on Monday night.
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The incident took place around 7:10 PM in the Bindravani area, where Mr. Thakur, accompanied only by his driver, sustained blunt injuries to his face. He was rushed to a local civil hospital and discharged after preliminary treatment.
The assailant, Mr. Hira Lal Thakur, a local shopkeeper and horse lender, has been arrested. According to the police, he was intoxicated at the time and was not involved in the mining. He had allegedly arrived at the scene and attempted to record a video of the SDM after three suspects involved in the illegal mining managed to escape.
Mandi Superintendent of Police (SP), Ms. Sakshi Verma (2014-batch IPS officer), confirmed that an FIR has been lodged, and efforts are underway to apprehend the three suspects. She also noted that local police had no prior information about the SDM’s inspection.
A resident of Samastipur, Bihar, Mr. Thakur was appointed SDM Mandi (Sadar) in 2023. Following the incident, he was on leave on Tuesday and was unavailable for comment.
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