DSP, SDM hurt as sand mafia attacks raiding team in Mewat

Sumedha Sharma
Tribune News Service
Gurugram, July 10

A joint team of the Mewat administration and the police was attacked by over 25 members of sand mafia during a raid in Ferozepur Jhirka late last night. The accused ransacked police vehicles and threw stones the raiding team, leaving all, including Sub-divisional Magistrate (SDM) Regan Kumar and Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Sunil Kaadyan, injured.

Kaadyan said they had been getting information about illegal mining in the hills of the Naharka border. The administration and the police planned a joint raid and the team, led by the SDM and DSP, reached the hill on Tuesday night. Seeing the police, those present in the crusher zone fled. However, when the police started impounding the stone-crushing machine, over 25 men attacked them.

They started throwing stones at the vehicles and officials. Though the police initially tried to resist the attack, they had to flee later. The attackers followed them and kept throwing stones.

“They first fled the spot on seeing us, but then came back with more goons. The attack would have been fatal had we not fled,” said Kaadyan.

The police have registered an FIR naming 15 men and 10 unidentified persons. Combing operations is on in nearby villages to nab the accused.

Sources said though banned in 2006, illegal stone mining and crushing was still going on in Mewat. It was initially done in small areas, but big illegal quarries are now being set up and local villagers are supporting the mafia for the want of employment.

Illegal mining 

• DSP Sunil Kaadyan said they had been getting information about illegal mining in the hills of the Naharka border
• The administration and the police planned a joint raid and the team, led by the SDM and DSP, reached the hill on Tuesday night
• Seeing the police, those present in the crusher zone fled. However, when the police started impounding the stone-crushing machine, over 25 men attacked them