Sand mafia attacks Nawada cops

NAWADA: SHO (incharge) of Warisaliganj police station Nityanand Sharma had a miraculous escape when criminals involved in illegal sand mining attempted to crush him under the wheels of a sand-laden tractor on Wednesday night.
Two policemen were seriously injured when the criminals resorted to heavy stone pelting at the cops. The cops have filed an FIR under various sections against several named and unnamed persons.
According to Sharma, following a tip-off that several tractors were illegally collecting and depositing sand near the temple adjacent to Manjaur village, he proceeded towards the site besides asking the police patrolling party led by ASI Dinesh Razak to reach the site.Even the adjoining Bagibardiha police outpost was informed to reach the site.
Several villagers from Manjaur and other villages, who were involved in the illegal sand trade, attacked the police personnel with stones and lathis. A tractor driver even tried to drive his tractor over the SHO when he asked him to stop. The SHO saved his life by jumping into a roadside pit. Constables Saroj Kumar and Dharmendra Kumar Pal were severely injured in the stone-pelting and later admitted to a public health centre at Warisaliganj.
An FIR was later lodged by ASI Dinesh Razak against one Sudama Singh and his son Rahul Kumar, Ashok Singh, Vikas Kumar, Sarjug Singh (all natives of Manjau village) and another 10 to 15 unidentified people.
Pakribarma SDPO Mukesh Kumar said on Thursday that raids were on to nab the accused involved in the attack on police personnel. “Seven tractors have been seized,” he said.
Police sources said hundreds of tractors from several villages under Warisaliganj police station are being used for illegal sand mining. Hundred cubic feet (CFT) of sand is being sold at the rate of Rs 2,500 to Rs 3,000.