The war between the state police and Kerala’s sand mafia took to another level on Saturday when a police officer from Pariyaram in Kannur district was thrown off a moving lorry while trying to arrest illegal sand miners.Sub-inspector Rajan has been shifted to MIMS hospital in Calicut for treatment. He was earlier admitted to Pariyaram medical college.When SI Rajan was informed about the incident early Saturday morning, he rushed to the site along with a constable. When he reached the spot around 5am, a lorry was found loading sand illegally. In an attempt to prevent them from escaping, Rajan climbed onto the lorry. The illegal miners panicked and rode the lorry off with Rajan on board. Rajan was later found injured and bleeding on the roadside, around 5.30am.Police have identified the gang involved in the incident. Gang leader Latheef has gone into hiding along with the rest of the crew. The lorry, which was found abandoned in Cherupuzha, around nine kilometers off the site, was taken into custody by the police on Saturday.Latheef is alleged to have been involved in illegal sand mining in the past. One of Latheef’s lorries which was confiscated six months ago, is still under the police custody. “Latheef was earlier booked for smuggling sand six months ago and is out on bail,” said A Surendran, Thaliparamba DYSP. “Illegal sand mining has been rampant in the district, although it has come down over the last few months”, said PN Unnirajan,SP Kannur, citing earlier instances.DYSP A Surendran told The News Minute that the 52 year-old SI is a proactive police officer and that the police is committed to eradicating sand mafia from the district. “The attacks against police personnel itself occur because strict action is taken against them,” said Surendran.He added that an investigation to track down Latheef and his gang is on.