Tribe killed by sand mafia, reportedly BJP leader in MP; Cong attacks govt

Sand mafia thugs, said to be a BJP leader, allegedly killed a farmer when he tried to prevent them from driving their tractor loaded with illegally mined sand through his farmland, damaging his paddy crop in Madhya Pradesh’s Singrauli district.

The opposition Congress party launched a scathing attack on the BJP government and CM Dr Mohan Yadav over the incident.

According to information, the incident took place late on Sunday night in Gannai village, which falls under Sarrai police station.

The tractor that was transporting illegally mined sand from the Pateer river in the area reportedly belonged to local BJP leader Lalle Vaishya, former vice-president of the BJP’s youth wing, the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM).

Sources said the mafia gangsters, to evade the police, repeatedly drove through the agricultural field of tribal farmer Indrapal Agariya (46). The farmer had sown paddy in the field and the crop was badly damaged by the tractor.

Late on Sunday night, Indrapal tried to stop the miscreants who were driving through his field, but instead of stopping, they reportedly ran over Indrapal with the tractor. The chieftain was crushed under the wheels and died on the spot. The miscreants then abandoned the tractor at the spot and fled the scene.

According to Singrauli SP Nivedita Naidu, tractor owner Lalle has been arrested. The SP said further action would be taken based on the autopsy report.

MP Congress leader Jitu Patwari said this was yet another incident in the long list of crimes and atrocities against poor tribals in Madhya Pradesh. Patwari said the accused in this case are also BJP leaders. Patwari said CM Yadav, who is also the Home Minister, has been silent on all such incidents.

Former Congress MP Kamleshwar Patel alleged that a BJP leader killed a tribal farmer. Patel targeted MP CM Mohan Yadav, alleging that the CM had turned Madhya Pradesh into Mafia Pradesh.

Former MP CM and Congress leader Kamal Nath said that yet another tribesman has been murdered in MP. He wondered if such crimes would ever stop?