The home guards were beaten up allegedly by the sand mafia
Five people have been detained in connection with an attack on a woman mining inspector in Madhya Pradesh, allegedly by the sand mafia. The attack took place in Shajapur on Wednesday when during a raid on the banks of Nevaj River.
The inspector Reena Pathak conducted the raid on a complaint which came on the chief minister's helpline number. She seized four tractor trolley laden with illegally mined sand. The drivers managed to flee but later returned with over two dozen men and women armed with sticks and stones. These people beat up the home guards and the mining inspector and even damaged her car.
"We had gone there to check illegal mining. After we seized the tractors two dozen men and women attacked us. We somehow fled and saved our lives and rushed to the nearest police station," Ms Pathak said.
The district administration, however, blamed Ms Pathak for the incident.
"As per the rules the mining inspector should have informed the local administration and the police before conducting the raid. Because she did not inform, such an incident has taken place," Sub-Divisional Magistrate Shajapur Ranjeet Singh said.
The mining inspector, however, claimed the local police was informed.
The incident once again brought to light how illegal mining continues to be untamable which in last three years has taken the lives of two police officials in the line of duty. A police constable was killed in Morena in April after the driver of a truck laden with illegally mined sand lost control of the wheel. Constable Dharmendra Chouhan was part of the police team that had been chasing the truck.
In March 2012, IPS officer Narendra Kumar was mowed down by a tractor allegedly owned by sand mafia in Morena district. A CBI probe was later conducted into the killing and the accused, Manoj Gurjar, was arrested.