A mines department inspector and five home guard jawans sustained serious injuries in an alleged attack by a gang of sand mafias during a joint raid in Bihar’s Kishanganj district, according to police reports on Saturday.
The incident occurred around 3 p.m. on Wednesday when a joint team comprising mines department officials and home guard jawans responded to a complaint about the illegal extraction of sand. Upon reaching the site, the team observed sand mafias attempting to flee upon their arrival. The suspects, operating a tractor-trolley, abandoned the vehicle and left the scene. However, they later returned and launched an attack on the team, wielding sticks and pelting stones.
The assailants managed to escape by the time local police arrived at the scene. The injured officials, including Shambhu Paswan, Md Nasahad, Md Ismail, Bipin Kumar Yadav, Yogendra Prasad Singh (home guards), and mining inspector Umashankar Singh, were then transported to Kishanganj district hospital for treatment.
In response to the attack, a case has been registered against 21 individuals involved in the assault, and efforts are underway to apprehend them. The accused, identified in the FIR, include Manirul Haq, Badal, Azizul, Sukha Ali, Enamul Haq, Saidur, Qasim, Qadir, Rizaul, Sufiyan, Arzaul, Gulab, Nutful, Manjar, Matirjar, Izaul, Manrul, Bablu, Jahul Alam, Kaushar, and Azizul.
The FIR details that the accused were engaged in the unauthorized extraction of sand from Chamrani Balughat of the Mahananda River, storing it in Matia Bhitha village. Majbool Rahman, a resident of Naya Chowk Ganjabari village, allegedly managed the stock of sand and sold it in the market at inflated prices, violating legal regulations. The police also seized a sand-laden vehicle without proper registration and a motorcycle in connection with the incident.