AT LEAST five policemen and three villagers were injured in a clash between them during the operation carried out by the Forest Department against illegal mining in village Jarah under Sarai Chola police station of district Morena on National Highway-3 this evening.
While the policemen were injured in stone-pelting, the villagers were injured when the police opened fire in self-defence, sources said.
The police personnel who received injuries included CSP S S Chahal, TIs S N Dubey and R N Dubey, and two constables. There services had been sought by the Forest Department. The villagers who got injured in police firing were identified as Mohar Singh Gurjar, Raghu and Manoj Kushwaha.
The condition of injured persons is reported to be stable. According to the sources, the taskforce of Forest Department led by DFO K P Sharma together with SAF and local police force today raided illegal sand excavation near village Jarah and seized unauthorised truckloads full of sand.
The people engaged in mining pelted stones on the raiding party. In self-defence, the police party also opened fire, resulting into injury to three villagers.
The Congress party came out in support of the villagers and staged a road blockade on NH-3, near Sarai Chola police station.
{{/usCountry}}The Congress party came out in support of the villagers and staged a road blockade on NH-3, near Sarai Chola police station.
{{/usCountry}}The Congress demanded arrest of DFO and contractor of Piprai sand mine for precipitating the crisis.