Criminal syndicates have been unleashed terror in recent months by attacking & killing police officials who have cracked down upon them
Photo: Mohd Imran Khan Bihar police have arrested 20 sand smugglers and seized 40 sand-laden boats in a major crackdown against illegal sand mining in the state. The police action took place near Bihta on the Sone river in Patna district, bordering Koelwar in neighbouring Bhojpur district, officials said on December 22.
The cops had earlier arrested two members of the sand mafia with arms in Maner near Patna on December 20.
A joint team raided Amnabad and Pathlautiya near Bihta late on the night of December 21 after receiving a tip off that illegal sand mining was underway, district mining officer Pritam Kumar said.
The police personnel found more than two dozen people loading sand on dozens of big mechanised boats to ferry it away.
“The police team successfully apprehended members of the sand mafia. A first information report was also lodged,” Kumar said. He added that after the cops surprised the mafiosi, some set fire to nearly 10 boats in the main channel of the Sone to divert the police’s attention.
Illegal sand mining is carried out by powerful mafiosi in several districts of Bihar — including Patna, Bhojpur, Rohtas, Aurangabad, Saran, and Vaishali — during the monsoon.
The mafiosi are very well-armed. They often outnumber police teams, a senior official of Additional Director General (ADG) rank at headquarters told this reporter.
Criminal syndicates have unleashed terror in recent months by attacking and killing police officials who have cracked down upon them.
They have attacked police and administrative officials over a dozen times across the state from January-November this year. These attacks have been concentrated in half-a-dozen districts famous for their highly demanded and priced pila sona — bright yellow sand.
Just last month, mafiosi killed a police sub-inspector in Jamui district and a police constable in Aurangabad district during checking of vehicles carrying illegal sand.
They also reportedly enjoy the support of local politicians and administrative officers.
Hours after the operation near Bihta, illegal sand mining reportedly resumed in the area. Armed henchmen, along with dozens of labourers, were reportedly seen illegally extracting sand from the riverbeds and transporting it on boats.
The ADG, though, said action against sand mafia would continue in the state.
Last month, the state government decided to set up permanent check posts at some sensitive and vulnerable places identified by the mining department to curb illegal sand mining.
The government has issued a directive to concerned officials for the check points. They are to be set up in Patna, Bhojpur, Aurangabad, Nawada, Kaimur and Jamui districts.
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