Two held for ‘assaulting’ officials during stubble-burning inspection

A CIA-1 team of the Kaithal police have arrested have arrested two persons for allegedly assaulting government employees who were on official duty to inspect cases of stubble burning in fields of Geong village — which falls under the jurisdiction of the Sadar police station.

The accused were remanded in judicial custody by a court on Thursday.

A police spokesperson said a case was registered on the complaint of one Rajbir, Block Technical Manager of the Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department. According to the complainant, on October 1, he had gone to the Geong area along with Patwari Yashpal, Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department Supervisor Naveen, and trainee Patwari Rahul for an inspection related to the prevention of crop residue burning. During the inspection, the team noticed smoke rising near the Keorak-Geong road.

After reaching the spot, they found Sohan, Ramesh, and an unidentified person there. When questioned, the men attacked the officials, threatened them, and inflicted injuries using sticks.

The attackers also damaged government documents and vehicle equipment, and allegedly forced one of the officials to write on paper that they had come to steal cables.

The team managed to escape. A police team, led by Sub-Inspector Jaswant Singh and Assistant Sub-Inspector Rohtas, arrested the accused, identified as Harikesh and Baldev, both residents of Geong village, on Wednesday.

The police have recovered a stick used in the assault, and the challan book snatched from the officials.