Madhya Pradesh Sand Mafia Rams Official Vehicle in Violent Confrontation with SDM

Police seized both tractor-trolleys involved following the dangerous incident.

Bhopal:

The sand mafia's reign of terror in Madhya Pradesh's Bhind district was again highlighted on Monday, demonstrating how brazen illegal miners have become in defying authorities.

During a late-night enforcement operation, a tractor-trolley loaded with illegally mined sand deliberately crashed into Lahar Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Vijay Yadav's official vehicle. The collision caused extensive damage to the vehicle, though fortunately, the SDM escaped without major injuries.

Official sources reported that SDM Yadav had received intelligence regarding illegal sand transportation activities. Acting on this information, he deployed his official vehicle to intercept the suspects. Near the Mihona bypass, he identified two tractor-trolleys transporting sand without the required royalty permits.

When the SDM attempted to halt the vehicles, both drivers accelerated in an attempt to escape. Determined to apprehend them, the SDM pursued the vehicles. In a shocking display of criminal defiance, one tractor driver deliberately veered into the SDM's car, clearly intending to force it off the road.

The resulting collision severely damaged the front section of the SDM's vehicle, causing alarm throughout the area. By sheer fortune, Vijay Yadav emerged unharmed. The tractor driver abandoned his vehicle and fled the scene.

Police quickly arrived and confiscated both tractor-trolleys involved in the illegal transport. The vehicles were taken to the police station. Authorities have filed a case under sections related to illegal sand mining, endangering a public servant's life, and damaging government property. Police teams have been dispatched to locate and arrest the driver.

This attack evokes memories of another incident from January 30, 2025, when then-Bhind Collector Sanjeev Srivastava was targeted by the sand mafia. During his late-night inspection of the Katra sand mine, the Collector seized an illegally operating tractor-trolley. Shortly after, mafia members converged on the site, surrounded the Collector, and attempted to assault him. Security personnel had to fire warning shots to disperse the attackers.

The increasing lawlessness in the Gwalior-Chambal region also brings to mind one of the most tragic episodes in the battle against the sand mafia. On March 8, 2012, during Holi celebrations, IPS officer Narendra Kumar was patrolling the Agra-Mumbai National Highway (NH-3). When he attempted to stop a tractor-trolley carrying illegally mined stones, the driver accelerated and ran him over, causing injuries that ultimately proved fatal.