The mining department team raided a place at the bank of the Ghagra river after a tip-off and seized a dumper loaded with sand illegally dug, according to Ashish Dube, Faizabad district mining officer.
When they were taking the dumper to police station, about a dozen armed men intercepted them, the officer said.
The men took possession of the dumper and when the police guard, who was with the team, tried to stop the criminals, they tried to run him over.
One member of the gang has been arrested, the SHO said.