Sand Mafia Allegedly Holds Forest Team Hostage in MP Sanctuary
A forest department team from the Son Gharial sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh was allegedly held hostage for several hours and assaulted by the sand mafia during a late-night crackdown on illegal mining activities. The incident occurred in the Sihawal area of Sidhi district on Wednesday night, highlighting the ongoing challenges in combating illegal sand extraction.
Midnight Operation Turns Violent
Acting on a specific tip-off about ongoing illegal mining, the forest team reached Khuteli ghat on the Son river around midnight. Upon arrival, they discovered mining operations in progress. Seeing the officials approach, some suspects immediately fled the scene, abandoning their tractors at the location.
However, the situation escalated dramatically when a group of alleged sand mafia members regrouped and returned to the site. They surrounded the forest team, holding the staff hostage for approximately three hours. During this period, the accused assaulted the forest officials before finally fleeing the area in their tractors around 3 am.
Team Composition and Police Response
Sources revealed that the forest team consisted of approximately seven members, including three regular staff members and others hired on a daily wage basis. Following their ordeal, the forest officials contacted local police at around 3 am to report the incident.
A team from Bahri police station promptly rushed to the spot in response to the emergency call. Bahri police station incharge Rajesh Pandey confirmed that authorities have registered a formal case based on the forest officials' complaint.
Legal Action and Investigation
"A case has been registered on the complaint of the forest officials against three persons, two identified and one unidentified, under relevant sections, and detailed probe is being carried out," stated Pandey. "A hunt has been launched to arrest the accused, and we are hopeful of arresting them soon."
The incident underscores the persistent threat posed by illegal mining operations in protected areas and the risks faced by enforcement personnel attempting to curb these activities. The Son Gharial sanctuary, home to critically endangered gharials, has been particularly vulnerable to such illegal operations that threaten both wildlife and environmental stability.
