Durga Shakti Nagpal’s batchmate attacked by mining mafia,escapes bid on life
The officer had been carrying out a crusade against the mining mafia.
In a brazen act,infamous mining mafia made an aborted attempt on the life of young IAS officer Yunus Khan,a Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Nalagarh in Solan district bordering Chandigarh when he led a raiding party to nab some culprits involved in illegal mining at Sarsa river flowing close to the town on Wednesday.
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A batchmate of suspended Uttar Pradesh IAS officer Durga Shakti Nagpal had been single handled spreading a concerted crusade against mining mafia in the area,which is enjoying powerful political connections.
Deputy Commissioner Solan Madan Chauhan confirmed the incident to the Indian Express and said “The officer has been very proactive to check illegal mining. Yesterday,when he was chasing some tractors carrying illegal sand and gravels,attempt was made to hit his official vehicle twice. He is safe and driver to the erring vehicle has been arrested by the police.”
Arrested driver Makhan Singh,son of Bant Singh of village Dang Nelhi of Nalagarh,was arrested after Yunus and other officials includling those from the mining department had lodged an FIR at local police station. His father owns the tractor which he was driving.
In less than six months time of his posting,Yunus has fined and challaned hundreds of vehicles included tractors recovering nearly Rs one crore for illegal sand mining in the area.
When contacted,Yunus said,”It was a narrow escape. It did not anticipate the attack as Himachal Pradesh being a peaceful state unlike those having powerful mafia gangs. I am enjoying full protection of the government. I have no complaint about my safety or performing my job.”
It was in early hours of Wednesday when Yunus along four other persons including two police constables had set off to catch some culprits carrying sand and gravel illegally. “It was around 4.45 AM when a tractor I was chasing suddenly tried to knock my vehicle down from a bridge. The driver racing the tractors in a speed of 50 kph”
“As attempts failed,the accused (driver) suddenly pulled the liver of the hydraulic trolley filled with sand and gravels which came straight on my vehicle…Oh God,it was a providential escape for me,” he said.
The SDM says he had acted upon an information to nab the accused .All ran away except this particularly driver,who could be under some intoxication and tried to retaliate.
What has come more shocking that the Police registered FIR under section 353 of IPC,(Assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) not attempt to murder.
Himachal Pradesh is prone to illegal mining mostly in the border districts of Solan,Sirmaur,Una,Kangra beside Shimla,Mandi and Kullu.
The government sources confirm that Yunus has been carrying on a consistent campaign against the mining mafia in his area without much active help from the police,forest and mining officials. The mining mafia members have been sending frivolous complaints against him to the government ,and one such was recently sent to Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh accusing the officer of undue interfering in their activities.
The attacks on the IAS officer has come handy for the opposition BJP. BJP MP Anurag Thakur said,”State’s law and order situation has become worst because the police was busy only in making cases against the opponents forgetting their real duty to check crime,smuggling and illegal mining in Una and Nalagarh areas. I am aware the sand mafia is enjoying political patronage and bribing the police.”
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