Add illegal mining, theft sections to FIR: Minister

MOHALI: After The Tribune highlighted that the FIR against the six accused, who were caught with a tractor-trailer full of sand, included sections of attempt to murder and rioting, but not of theft and illegal mining, Punjab Forest Minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot has now directed the Mohali police to include these sections to the FIR.

Sand dumped by miners after attacking officials at Seonk village. File photo

Ishrat S Banwait

Tribune News Service

Mohali, July 1

After The Tribune highlighted that the FIR against the six accused, who were caught with a tractor-trailer full of sand, included sections of attempt to murder and rioting, but not of theft and illegal mining, Punjab Forest Minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot has now directed the Mohali police to include these sections to the FIR.

Bikramjit Singh, SHO of the Mullanpur police station, where the case was registered, confirmed the development, saying that the Forest Minister had issued the directions on the telephone.

The six youths, who allegedly attacked forest officials at Seonk village on June 18, were arrested, but the FIR included sections of only attempt to murder, rioting and causing hurt to public servants.

The youths were arrested on June 20 and the police, while admitting that it was a case of illegal mining, had ruled out the involvement of the sand mafia. The police had said they were local residents trying to make some money. Officials of the Mining Department had stated that there was no authorised site for mining of sand in and around Seonk village.

SSP Kuldeep Singh Chahal had earlier stated that the accused were not carrying sand but mud, which was meant for levelling land. Later, he distanced himself from the statement.

On the fateful day, Block Forest Officer Devinder Singh, along with colleagues, had laid a naka in Seonk village when a trailer full of sand and some logs arrived. When they checked it, they were attacked. Devinder was critically injured and is under treatment at the PGI.

Directions issued on phone

Bikramjit Singh, SHO of the Mullanpur police station, where the case was registered, confirmed the development, saying that Punjab Forest Minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot had issued the directions on the telephone.