4 cops attacked by illegal miners in Nuh

The incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday when a police team, acting on a tip, arrived at Lingua Kalan in Nuh’s Punhana to stop illegal mining activity

Published on: Jan 31, 2024, 23:11:29 IST

By Leena Dhankhar, Gurugram

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Ten police officers were attacked by residents of a village in Nuh who were illegally mining stones from the nearby hills, police officers aware of the matter said on Wednesday.

The incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday when a police team, acting on a tip, arrived at Lingua Kalan in Nuh’s Punhana to stop illegal mining activity, they added.

Sub-inspector Karan Singh of the Haryana Enforcement Bureau said that when their team arrived on the scene, they found a tractor and a JCB machine being used to mine the stones. “We seized the tractor and JCB, but while we were returning to the police station, 15 local residents arrived on the scene and created a commotion. The village sarpanch instigated them and forcefully snatched the JCB machine from us. Some of us were injured in the attack,” he said.

Based on Singh’s complaint, a case was registered against at least 15-20 people at Punhana police station on Tuesday under Indian Penal Code sections 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 341(wrongful restraint), 506 (criminal intimidation), 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public function), 379 (theft), and other provisions of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act and Mine and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act.

Arvind Kumar, station house officer of Punhana police station said they were conducting raids to arrest the suspects.

A related incident occurred two weeks ago when four policemen were attacked by a group of miners and residents of another village in Nuh while attempting to stop two overloaded tractor-trailers ferrying illegally mined stones.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Leena Dhankhar
Leena Dhankhar is Senior Editor and Bureau Chief, Gurugram, at Hindustan Times, where she has spent over 17 years chronicling the transformation of one of India's fastest-growing urban regions. From starting her career as a crime reporter to leading the Gurugram bureau, her journalism has been defined by investigative reporting, in-depth storytelling and an unwavering focus on public interest. Over nearly two decades, she has reported extensively across crime, politics, civic governance, elections, real estate, environment, courts, sports, education and entertainment, covering Gurugram, Faridabad, Nuh and Palwal. Her reporting has exposed several major scams and systemic failures, including insurance frauds, waste management irregularities, illegal arms manufacturing units in Nuh, illegal mining in the Aravallis, organised crime networks and governance lapses affecting millions of residents. Known for her investigative work and exclusive stories, Leena has reported on high-impact national issues, including the Nicaragua charter flight carrying Indian migrants that was turned back amid allegations of human trafficking, exposing the growing network of illegal immigration rackets. Her work has also focused on gang wars, prison administration, juvenile crime, women and child protection systems, the functioning of the Juvenile Justice Board and Child Welfare Committee, and environmental challenges such as pollution, waterlogging and deteriorating civic infrastructure. Beyond hard news, Leena has extensively documented Haryana's rich heritage, forests and wildlife, bringing attention to the state's historical landmarks, biodiversity, conservation efforts and ecological challenges through immersive reportage and feature writing. Her journalism has consistently gone beyond breaking news. She has documented Gurugram's rapid urbanisation through long-form narratives and enterprise reporting on issues ranging from pothole-ridden roads, flooding and waste management to the changing social fabric of India's Millennium City. She also writes widely read feature columns, including The Outsider, Changemaker, and Concern for Gurugram, profiling people, places and ideas shaping the city's identity. Leena is the author of Gurugram School Murder, published by Juggernaut Books, a deeply reported account of one of India's most high-profile school murder investigations. She is currently working on her second book, an investigative work exploring some of India's most significant scams and fraud investigations. Beyond print journalism, she has expanded her storytelling through public speaking and digital media. She is a TEDx speaker and has produced podcasts exploring Gurugram's transformation, civic challenges and untold stories. Her work reflects a commitment to narrative journalism that combines rigorous reporting with compelling storytelling. A law graduate with an MBA in Human Resources, Leena brings a multidisciplinary perspective to her reporting, particularly on governance, public policy and legal affairs. She has travelled extensively across India to pursue investigative assignments, often reporting from remote locations and conflict-prone areas in search of stories that matter.Read More