Bhubaneswar, May 19 -- In a shocking incident highlighting the growing audacity of illegal sand operators, members of an alleged sand mafia attacked a police team during a raid at Mrudanga village under Bhuban Police Station limits in Odisha's Dhenkanal district on Tuesday.

According to reports, Bhuban Police Station IIC Renubala Sahu and her team had conducted a raid after receiving information about the illegal transportation and smuggling of sand in the area. During the operation, the police attempted to intercept a tractor allegedly involved in the illegal sand trade.

However, the situation soon turned violent as several accused persons allegedly attacked the police team and resorted to heavy stone pelting. In the chaos, the miscrea...