
Madhya Pradesh cracks the whip on officers colluding with illegal sand miners
In a major crackdown against collusion between police personnel and sand mafia, the Sidhi police has taken action against nearly 50 police personnel by either suspending them, instituting departmental inquiry against them or removing them from service in the last two months.
In one instance, the entire police outpost in Piparohar comprising 16 personnel, headed by a sub-inspector was changed, when the higher-ups found that the entire outpost was involved in abetting illegal sand mining.
Police officers have been alleged to collude with mining mafia in these regions, getting a “cut” (commission) for turning a blind eye to illegal mining and overloading of trucks.
Attempts to stop illegal mining has met with resistance from locals throughout Madhya Pradesh with officials being threatened and even attacked.
Illegal mining in Sidhi is mainly carried out on the banks of Son river, home to now endangered Ghariyal. Mining department officials say that every day, some 400 to 500 trucks of sand are mined. Though there is no official estimate, activists say the government loses crores every year due to illegal mining in Sidhi.
Sidhi SP Manoj Shrivastava said they registered around 100 cases against illegal mining in the past two months.
“We have also started registering cases of theft under Section 379 of the IPC,” he said.
Earlier, when a truck was found carrying more sand than sanctioned under the permit, a case of overloading was registered. Now, police register cases of theft and impound the vehicles.
Justifying the theft charge, SP Shrivastava said, “Since you have taken more than your permit sanctions, it is a case of theft, not simply one of overloading.”
The government had passed a proposal in the state cabinet in November under which 821 of the 1,266 sand mines in the state would be handed over to the panchayats, while the remaining 445 would be given through auction.

Army's Central Command honours soldiers with service awards

Ex-MP Cong chief objects to entry of Godse worshiper into party

Madhya Praddesh HC tells state govt to hold local body polls at earliest

Man who worshipped Godse joins Cong; ‘now Gandhian’, says party

School principal booked under anti-conversion law in MP: Police

6 youths killed in a car accident in Indore after party
- An employee of a nearby petrol pump said he heard a blast-like sound and when he reached the accident spot, he saw the car in a bad shape, said a police officer.

RT-PCR test compulsory for people travelling to Madhya Pradesh from Maharashtra
- The decision was taken during a high-level Covid review meeting held on Monday after a new wave of Covid-19 cases was reported from Indore.

IISER Bhopal uses AI-supported cameras to ensure masking, social distancing

'Commendable': MP Guv praises state govt for law against forced conversion
- Madhya Pradesh became the first state which is ready with a roadmap to make the state self-reliant, said the Governor.

MP police arrest dentist who killed woman, hid body in Drishyam style
- Dentist Tripathi confessed to his crime after police found the tower location of Vibha’s mobile matched his at the same time on December 14, the day Vibha vanished.

BJP leader among four booked for abduction, rape of 19-yr-old in MP

Hoshangabad in Madhya Pradesh to be renamed as Narmadapuram, says CM Chouhan

NITI Aayog meet: MP CM talks about steps taken for agriculture sector

40 people fall ill after consuming food at public gathering in MP's Gwalior

Shivraj Chouhan finds mosquitoes in Sidhi circuit house. Official suspended
- During his visit to Sidhi, the CM spent a night at the circuit house and took notice of the unhygienic conditions.