Three policemen have lost their lives in three different incidents related to illegal sand mining activities in May-June 2024. In the first incident a policeman Rohit Kumar Pancholi was killed at night on June 8 in Uttar Pradesh. The 24-year-old Constable was trying to stop a tractor-trolley involved in illegal sand mining in Nagla Chandan area of Farrukhabad district.
As per the police, the constable in accompany of Inspector Santosh Kumar and Constable Chaman had gone to Nagla Chandan after a tip-off about illegal sand mining. When they stopped the tractor-trolley and began questioning the driver, he hit the constable with the tractor and injured him seriously.
The constable was critically wounded and later succumbed to his injuries in a private hospital on June 9. A native to Bijnor district the young policeman was posted in Nawabganj police station.
The family of the deceased have reportedly named five accused in the complaint. As per the police, two suspects Pradeep Yadav and Bhupendra Yadav, both residents of Farrukhabad district were arrested following a raid and shootout on June 9 night.
In the second incident another young policeman Deepak Kumar was mowed down by a tractor trolley carrying illegal mined sand in Aurangabad district of Bihar on June 9. As per the police, the constable was taken to a nearby hospital but was declared brought dead. The 29-year-old constable hailed from Arrah area of Bhojpur district.
The incident took place around 4 am at Musepur Khaira village under Daudnagar Police Station when the Constable tried to stop the vehicle. The driver mowed down the Constable and fled the spot leaving behind the vehicle.
In third similar incident in Bihar, Sanjit Kumar an assistant sub-inspector (ASI) suffered grave injuries after being hit by a tractor ferrying illegally mined sand in Nawada district on June 16 just week after the killing of Constable Deepak Kumar. While on duty, the ASI had asked the driver to stop the vehicle in Laund village, but the driver knocked him down and fled. The vehicle was plying despite a prohibition on sand mining in the area from June 15 to Oct 15.
Moreover, in the first week of May 2024, ASI Mahendra Bagri was run over by a tractor-trolley carrying illegally mined sand in Shadol district of Madhya Pradesh. The 37-year-old police official was a native of Singhpur in Satna and was posted at Beohari Police Station.
The incident occurred in late hours of May 4 near Khadoli village, when the ASI along with two Constables Prasad Kanoji and Sanjay Dubey were on their way to serve an arrest warrant in the area infamous for illegal sand mining. On seeing a sand loaded tractor coming from Samdhin river, the ASI asked the driver to stop, but instead the driver mowed him down to death. The ASI died on the spot, while the constables managed to escape unhurt.
The police later arrested 19-year-old Raj Rawat the driver and Ashutosh Singh the son of tractor owner both residents of Jamodi village, while Surendra Singh the owner of the tractor who was also arrested in illegal sand mining case in August 2023, remained at large.
The Shadol district has become infamous for illegal sand mining and there have been several incidents of violent attack on government officials in the recent past. On Nov 25, 2023, Prasanna Singh Baghel, a Patwari posted at Khadda in Beohari Tehsil was brutally crushed to death by a tractor involved in illegal sand mining in Son river in Deolond Police Station area.
Following Tehsildar order, the Patwari along with his three colleagues had gone to check illegal sand mining. Around midnight, the team reached Gopalpur ghat and spotted many tractors carrying illegally mined sand. Baghel tried to stop one of the tractors, but the driver suddenly ran him over with the tractor.
As per reports, Prasanna Singh Baghel was a native of Bairo village in Rewa district. After serving the country in Indian Army for 16 years, he got retired in 2017. He later became a Patwari and got posted first in Anuppur and then in Shadol districts.
He was committed to his profession and aware of threats from sand mafias. His family alleged that he was often given night duties without adequate police protection. Even questions were raised on police investigation probing his death.
These horrific incidents have put the spot light on brazenness and violent nature of operations by sand mafias in these states. The respective govts in State and at Centre have been miserable in ensuring compliance to norms and deter the increasing violent attacks by sand mafia. Sadly, innocent people and government officials continue to pay the price of governments abject failure with their lives.
The killing of constables Rohit Kumar in Uttar Pradesh and Deepak Kumar in Bihar took place within a day of June 8-9 when new govt at center was under formation, while ASI Mahendra Bagre in Madhya Pradesh was mowed down on May 4 when the model election code of conduct was in place.
Use of tractor-trollies involved in illegal sand mining as weapon of attack and murder is pattern seen in all the above listed cases. Similarly, mowing down government officials on duty while asking the culprits to stop for inspection has become a routine for fearless sand mafias in these States.
The Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh are among top States in India affected by river sand mining related violence and accident and have cumulatively resulted in avoidable death of at least 147 people between April 2022 and March 2023 as compiled in SANDRP previous analysis.
Bhim Singh Rawat (bhim.sandrp@gmail.com)
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SANDRP 