Mining Official Files Police Complaint After Alleged Harassment by Unidentified Vehicles
A 24-year-old mines supervisor, Saguna Ozha, posted with the district geology and mining office, has filed a formal complaint with Mansa police, alleging a disturbing incident of harassment by unidentified individuals. The complaint, lodged on Sunday, details that a group of men in four vehicles without number plates tailed and attempted to obstruct her team following an inspection related to illegal mineral storage.
Incident Details and Timeline
According to the complaint, the incident occurred in the early hours of February 22. Ozha, along with assistant geologist Pranav Singh and royalty inspector Mehula Sabhaya, had conducted a check at Pundhra village in Mansa taluka. The team was returning to Gandhinagar around 4:15 a.m. in a private vehicle when they noticed suspicious activity.
Key observations from the complaint include:
- Two black sport utility vehicles and one black compact vehicle, all with tinted windows and no number plates, began following them from the Pundhra-Pethapur stretch.
- One of the vehicles had "Raahi" written in white on the driver-side window.
- Ozha claimed to recognize Digvijaysinh Chavda of Varsoda in one of the vehicles.
- Near Arjunpura, the vehicles drove ahead of and behind their car, attempting to prevent forward movement.
- The team recorded video footage of the alleged tailing around 4:40 a.m. on a mobile phone.
Escalation and Police Response
Upon reaching near the SP office in Sector 28 and noticing police presence, the vehicles allegedly dispersed. However, the situation escalated when a white hatchback without a number plate resumed following them from Sector 30 up to CH-0 Circle, where the earlier three vehicles were allegedly waiting.
The complaint further alleges that the vehicles formed a group, drove recklessly, and attempted to obstruct the team from performing government duty. Later, near Infocity, two persons travelling in the white car abandoned the vehicle and fled when the team pursued them. The car was subsequently seized and kept at Piplaj check post.
Previous Concerns and Legal Action
Ozha also mentioned in her complaint that she had earlier submitted an application to Pethapur police in May 2025 regarding similar alleged surveillance, indicating a pattern of concern. Mansa police have registered a case based on the complaint, including charges of wrongful restraint, obstructing a public servant in the discharge of duty, and unlawful assembly.
This incident highlights ongoing challenges in enforcing mining regulations and protecting officials during inspections. The police investigation is ongoing, with authorities reviewing the video evidence and other details to identify the perpetrators and ensure accountability.
