Sand mafia attacks cops, officials in MP
Within two days of the killing of Indian Police Service officer Narendra Kumar Singh by the mining mafia in Madhya Pradesh, there was another attack on police and government officials in the Panna district today, an official said. Video
Close on the heels of the killing of IPS Narendra Kumar in Morena, a team of officials was allegedly fired at by sand mafia in Panna, 413 km east of Bhopal on Saturday.
The officials comprising a Sub-divisional officer of Police (SDOP), Sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) and Town Inspector (TI) had gone to Chandameta village on the border of Chhatarpur, after getting information that illegal mining was on in the region and trolleys laden with sand were transported from here to Uttar Pradesh (UP).
Police sources said that a make-shift bridge had been constructed for transporting sand. Officials were on way to
demolish it. However, when the team reached the area, they were fired at. None of the officers were injured in the incident.
The police officials also fired in the air. It is suspected that one, Kuber Singh, is involved in illegal mining. Singh and his companions fled the spot after the police retaliated.
Deputy Inspector General (DIG) VP Sharma said that Kuber Singh's role has been found in the incident. "No officer is injured in the firing", he added. "It is a kutcha bridge on a stream to transport trolleys, close to Panna", he further said.
The incident occurred in Ajaygarh in Panna, close to Chhatarpur, on the border of Uttar Pradesh. SDOP JS Markam, SDM AN Gaud and local police personnel were part of the team.
Police officials including SP Anil Maheshwari rushed to the spot soon after the firing was reported. Additional force of around 50 jawans was also dispatched to the spot.
Just two days back IPS officer Narendra Kumar was killed in Panna, while another officer, Jayadevan, was attacked by liquor mafia in Bhind district apart from killing of a policeman in Khargone.