Gandhinagar: Banaskantha police have launched strict and aggressive action following a violent attack on government employees over a long-standing land dispute in Padaliya village of Danta taluka, near Ambaji. The incident occurred on Saturday afternoon, December 13, when a large mob allegedly attacked officials of the forest, police and revenue departments who were on duty.

An FIR has been registered against 27 named accused and nearly 500 unidentified persons in connection with the incident. Acting swiftly, Banaskantha police mobilised a large force, and a convoy of more than 200 personnel, including three Deputy Superintendents of Police (DySPs), left for Padaliya village on Sunday morning to initiate legal action.

According to police officials, a major combing operation has been launched to arrest those involved and to collect evidence from the scene. The operation includes three DySPs, 10 Police Inspectors, 12 Police Sub-Inspectors and over 200 police personnel. A panchnama of the crime scene will be conducted with the assistance of the Forensic Science Laboratory team to ensure scientific collection of evidence, after which intensive combing of the village will be carried out.

DySP Krunalsinh Parmar stated that the police team has proceeded to Padaliya village to take firm legal action and assured that all those involved in the attack will be arrested. He said the panchnama and combing process would help identify and nab every accused. Banaskantha police have issued a clear warning that no one obstructing or attacking government officials on duty will be spared.

The incident took place at Survey No. 9 of Padaliya village, about 12 km from Ambaji, where the forest department was carrying out nursery and plantation work on land that has been under dispute for a long time. At around 3 pm, a mob of nearly 500 people allegedly launched a pre-planned attack to stop the work. The assailants reportedly used stones, slingshots and arrowheads against government officials.

During the violence, several police and forest department vehicles were set on fire and extensively damaged. Police fired tear gas shells to control the situation, but the situation further deteriorated amid the chaos. As many as 47 officers and employees from the forest, police and revenue departments sustained injuries in the attack.

Banaskantha District Collector Mihir Patel immediately reached Ambaji and visited the injured officials. He said preliminary findings indicated that the attack was pre-planned and carried out by a large mob. Following the incident, the district police chief, DySP Krunalsinh Parmar and other senior officers rushed to the area with additional police force.

On Sunday morning, police teams left for Padaliya village to begin arrests and further legal proceedings. Authorities have reiterated that stringent action will be taken against all those responsible for the violent attack on government staff.