Forest guards brutally attacked by sand mafia in Chhattisgarh

Officials of the Chhattisgarh forest department were brutally attacked by suspected sand mafia members in Kawardha district, leaving four people injured and raising concerns over the growing influence of illegal mining syndicates.

The attack, carried out by suspected members of the sand mafia, took place late on Tuesday night when cops were trying to stop illegal sand mining in the Kudoor Jhori nala near Dalmauha village.

The officials, led by Circle In-Charge Ganesh Chandravanshi, had received intelligence information about illegal sand mining in Kudoor Jhori nala near Dalmauha village. On arrival, they found a tractor-trolley laden with sand stuck in the mud, with two more tractors nearby. As the officers entered, a mob of locals attacked them, hurling abuses and death threats.

The attackers, armed with sticks and rods, chased the officers, brutally assaulted them and tore their uniforms. Despite attempts by some team members to escape to a nearby village, the violence escalated further when a group of 20 attackers caught up with them around midnight.

The brutality of the sand mafia did not stop there. The two policemen, covered in blood, were thrown into the bucket of a JCB machine and transported 6 km away to Kamthi where they were dumped. In Kamthi, the injured policemen begged for water but the mafia heartlessly threatened to kill them and even made a video of the horrific incident.

Before unleashing a second wave of violent attacks, the assailants warned menacingly: “You are confiscating our sand carts, now we will kill you.” Constables Ganesh Chandravanshi and Anil Kurre were seriously injured in the attack but managed to escape. Other constables targeted in the operation were Vinayak Manav Maravi, Dinesh Kumar Verma and security guard Laman Baiga.

The injured officers have filed an official complaint, prompting the police to register a case against 20 people on charges of attempted murder and assault on public servants. The suspects are still at large, but law enforcement officials have assured that they will be arrested soon.

Sub-Divisional Officer of Police (SDOP) Pankaj Patel confirmed that the Forest Development Corporation team was targeted in an attempt to stop illegal sand mining activities. “This is an attack on government servants who were doing their duty. We have registered a case and strict action will be taken against those involved,” he said.

As authorities intensify their crackdown on illegal sand mining, the attack has sparked outrage among local government officials, demanding increased security measures and swift legal action against those responsible for the violence.

The sand mafia has long been a menace in Chhattisgarh, where illegal mining activities flourish in many districts, often under the aegis of local criminal networks. The government is now under pressure to ensure that such incidents do not go unpunished, threatening not only the environment but also the safety of law enforcement and forest officials.