A Katoria division forest ranger was seriously injured when a tractor driver beat him up with an iron rod on Thursday.

The forest ranger, Anil Kumar, was chasing a tractor loaded with stone boulders illegally excavated from the Jilabiamore forestland 75km southwest of the Banka district headquarters. Anil has been admitted to the local primary health centre in Katoria.

Police later nabbed the driver, Bambom Singh, and seized the vehicle with the help of local villagers. This is the first time that a forest personnel has been attacked by the stone mafia in Banka.

Intelligence sources said since the area is a Maoist stronghold, their patronage to stone mafias could not be ruled out. Maoists have been active in exploiting forest resources along with excavating stone and sand in neighbouring Jamui, Munger and Lakhisarai districts, the source pointed out.

Forest department sources said though the department carried out raids from time to time, groups continue to exploit forest resources in areas such as Jilibiamore, Suia and Katoria. "We were tipped-off on Thursday and Anil rushed to Harikura village under the jurisdiction of Katoria police station and tried to stop the tractor," a source said.

Banka superintendent of police Satyaprakashsaid police had intensified raids against the stone mafia. "Since the areas fall under the purview of forest and mining departments, police can't interfere directly," he said. "However, there are cases when police seized vehicles that were found carrying illegal materials. All the police stations concerned have been asked to step up vigil to bring an end to the menace."

Dipak Kumar, a social activist in Katoria, alleged that despite tall claims of the police and other departments, rampant excavation of stone, sand and other forest products are carried out. "The areas have lost greenery affecting the environment because of illegal mining," he said.