Illegal sand miners attack forest officials in Madhya Pradesh

Chhatarpur (MP):

Illegal sand miners attacked forest officials and escaped in two tractor-trolleys loaded with the construction material that the team had seized in Madhya Pradesh’s Chhatarpur district, an official said on Sunday.

The incident took place on Saturday in Bada Malhera area under the jurisdiction of Gulganj police station.

Forest officer Rajendra Pastor said they received information about illegal sand mining in a river below the Bhartoli forest area.

Based on these suggestions, forest officials from Bada Malhera and Gulganj traveled to the area to take action against illegal mining and transportation of sand, he said.

During the raid, Mr. Pastor said, the forestry team seized two tractor-trailers from the spot.

However, one Shailendra Singh, a resident of Gadha, tried to run over the forest officials with a tractor-trolley. He also damaged a forest department vehicle, he said.

Mr. Singh and others then fled in the sand-laden vehicles, he said.

A case has been filed against Singh under the Forest Act. Police have also booked him for obstructing official work, damaging government property and obscene acts under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, said sub-divisional police officer Rohit Amawa.

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