Mining mafia attacks enforcement team in Y’nagar, tries to snatch seized vehicles

A team of the Haryana State Enforcement Bureau, Yamunanagar, was allegedly attacked by members of the mining mafia in Bagpat village, under the jurisdiction of Pratap Nagar police station, while attempting to seize vehicles involved in illegal mining.

According to reports, the Enforcement Bureau team, led by Sub-Inspector Rajesh Kumar, included Assistant Sub-Inspectors (ASI) Jarnail Singh and Virender Singh, Head Constable Bhoop Singh and Constable Amandeep Singh. Acting on a tip-off, the team had gone to the area on January 28 to apprehend vehicles engaged in illegal mining operations.

Upon reaching Bagpat village around 10 pm, the team found that a tipper was being loaded with illegally mined minerals using an earth-moving machine in a seasonal riverbed. The officials intercepted the tipper and the earth-moving machine, but the drivers failed to produce any valid documents related to the mining operations.

As the team began transporting the seized vehicles to Pratap Nagar police station, an unregistered car suddenly appeared near Khizri village. The car occupants, three to four unidentified youths, forcibly stopped the earth-moving machine and launched an attack on the officials.

SHO Shyam Sunder of Haryana Enforcement Bureau, Yamunanagar, said, "ASI Virender Singh and Head Constable Bhoop Singh were sitting inside the earth-moving machine along with its driver when the accused forcibly opened the door of the cabin, snatched the machine’s keys and started abusing and manhandling them. They even attempted to take control of the earth-moving machine."

He added that ASI Jarnail Singh was in the tipper, while SI Rajesh Kumar and Constable Amandeep Singh followed behind in a police jeep.

Sensing trouble, ASI Virender Singh immediately alerted Dial 112, and a police response team rushed to the spot. However, upon seeing the approaching police team, the attackers fled the scene.

Based on a complaint filed by SI Rajesh Kumar, a case was registered at Pratap Nagar police station on January 29 under Section 21(1) of the Mines and Minerals (Regulation of Development) Act, 1957, Sections 121(1), 132, 221 and 303 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

The investigation is ongoing to identify and apprehend the accused.