Woman hurt as sand mafia henchmen attack farmer’s family, mediapersons
AJNALA ILLEGAL MINING Were attacked after people gathered at a mining site to raise their voice against the menace
AJNALA (AMRITSAR): A woman was injured after her family was allegedly attacked by sand mafia henchmen with stones and sharp-edged weapons at their home in Abadi Sohan Singh Ballarwarh village.
The farmer family had returned home after talking to mediapersons at a mining site in the area near Ravi river in Ajnala sub-division of Amritsar district. They were among others who had gathered at the site to raise their voice against the illegal mining that has been going on in the area for many years.
The injured woman identified as Kashmir Kaur said the goons were hidding in a sugarcane field and suddenly appeared when they reached home. “They attacked us with stones and sharp-edged weapons. The goons questioned us why we had brought so many people to the mining site. They also broke window panes of our house and damaged the tractor.”
“They fled when we shouted for help,” she added.
Minutes after this attack, some vehicles ferrying mediapersons were targeted by sand mafia henchmen. They pelted stones at the vehicle. However, no one was injured in the attack.
Senior superintendent of police (Amritsar-rural) Vikramjit Duggal said, “We have taken note of this matter. However, no case was registered as the woman who was attacked did not file any complaint and we were not able to identify the person whose car was
No case was registered as the woman did not file any complaint and we were not able to identify the person whose car was attacked. VIKRAMJIT DUGGAL, Senior superintendent of police (Amritsar-rural)
attacked.”
The Senior superintendent of police said action has been taken against illegal mining in the area and a case was registered against unknown persons under Section 379 of the IPC and Section 21 of Mines Act at Ajnala police station. “We have asked the mining department to identify illegal mines in the area so that strict action can be taken,” he added.
Several sand mines of depth upto 40 to 50ft are spread in an area covering hundreds of acres.
After floods in Rupnagar district caused heavy destruction due to mining, residents in the area fear that something similar might happen here.
On Friday, people gathered at the site to raise their voice against illegal mining which continues in broad daylight. As soon as people gathered at the site, workers stopped the mining work and ran away leaving the machines.
A farmer Sucha Singh said, “The mining mafia is affecting several border villages including Ballarhwal, Gam Chuk, Bhootanpura, Sarangdev, Kacha Dalla, Pakka Dalla, Khanewal, Rorewal, Kot Rajda, Darie Muse and Jasar. They are forcibly eroding cultivable land and sarpanches are also involved in this.”
“Workers start the mining at 4:00am and continue till late evening. Few days ago, a vehicle of sand mafia mowed down an elderly woman of Sarangdev village. No action was taken against them and her kin did not get any compensation. They have damaged all link roads in the area as the transportation of sand goes on day and night,” said Kirpal Singh, a farmer of Ballarhwal.
Former Ajnala MLA and SAD (Taksali) leader Amarpal Singh Boni who mobilised the affected people by visiting the sites, said, “A nexus of sand mafia with the sitting Congress MLA, sarpanches and officials is behind this goonism. This mining is illegal as the sites are not allotted to the contractors.
The mining can be done only in 100m area from the river bank but these mines are 200m away. Also, the mining should be done manually as per the rules but it is being done with machines. All this is damaging the eco-system and geography of the area.”
“If this illegal mining is not stopped, we will stage a dharna,” he said, adding that it has started during the Congress regime.
Ajnala MLA Harpratap Singh Ajnala said, “I don’t have anything to do with the mining which has been on since the SAD-BJP regime. Amarpal Singh Boni was behind it. I never interfered in this matter as the government alloted contractors to continue mining in the area and charges money from them through auction. People living in this area are poor and livelihood of most of them depends on it.”
However, he expressed ignorance about whether these mines are legal or illegal.
Deputy commissioner Shiv Dular Singh Dhillon was not available for comment.
Sub-divisional magistrate Deepak Bhatia said he took the charge a few days ago and is investigating about the mines in the area. “We will take the action accordingly,” he said.