Police inspector mowed down by tractor illegally transporting sand in Bihar's Jamui

Patna: A police sub-inspector was allegedly killed by the sand mafia in Bihar’s Jamui district on Tuesday.

The police officer was immediately rushed to a local hospital where he was declared brought dead. He was identified as Prabhat Ranjan, a resident of Siwan.

A home guard jawan identified as Rajesh Kumar Sao, also sustained serious injuries and is currently being treated at a private hospital.

The incident occurred when the police official tried to stop a tractor engaged in transporting illegal sand near Mahulia village under the jurisdiction of Garhi police station.

According to the officials investigating the case, the inspector was fatally mowed down by the tractor driver during the police operation to check illegal sand mining in the district.

“The police inspector lost his life when he intervened and tried to stop a tractor driver involved in transporting illegal sand. We have already identified the driver and efforts are being made to arrest him. This is a shocking incident but the police operation against the mafias will not stop”, Jamui DSP Abhishek Kumar told reporters.

Meanwhile, the opposition BJP has blamed the state government for the rise in mafias.

The Jamui incident is not an isolated case around five police personnel sustained serious injuries when they were attacked by sand mafias in October.

According to a report, the police have so far arrested 12 persons for their involvement in illegal sand trade.

Cases of attacks on the police by sand mafias have increased in Bihar in the past few months. Violent attacks have been rising in Patna, Bhojpur, Rohtas, Aurangabad, Saran and Vaishali districts.