Sabarkantha: Nitin Sangwan, an IAS officer from Gujarat, was allegedly held captive and beaten by a group of men involved in fishing activity during his visit to a village near the Dharoi dam in Sabarkantha district, informed the police on Wednesday.

It is believed that the incident was a result of the detection of irregularities in a fisheries project.

Sabarkantha district superintendent of police (DSP) Vishal Vaghela told the media, “Mr Sangwan, who is the Director of Fisheries, was accompanied by his subordinate staff during the visit to Dharoi on March 6th and was injured in the attack. However, he is now out of danger, added the official.

The police have arrested three persons identified as Dilip Parmar, Nilesh Gamar, and Vishnu Gamar, all residents of Banaskantha district, and efforts are on to identify and arrest the other accused.

According to the FIR, the incident allegedly occurred when Babu Parmar, a fishing contractor and a key accused in the case, got into an argument with Sangwan and others after realising that his wrongdoings are caught.

Parmar (a resident of Khedbrahma taluka) bit Sangwan near his knees, and four other persons arrived at the spot and beat the IAS officer. Later, Babu Parmar and others held Sangwan and his team hostage until they agreed to write and sign on a piece of paper assuring that they would not file a police complaint against him after leaving the place.

On the complaint filed by officer Patel, An FIR has been lodged against Babu Parmar and his men under various sections of the IPC, including 386 (extortion by putting a person in fear of death), 147 (rioting), 189 (threat of injury to public servant), 332 (causing hurt to public servant), 342 (wrongful confinement) and 353 (assaulting public servant). DeshGujarat