Activist who took on sand mafia shot dead in Noida

A vocal activist against illegal sand mining in UP was allegedly shot dead by the sand mafia on Wednesday just three days after IAS officer Durga Nagpal was suspended for taking them on. Shashank Shekhar reports.

A vocal activist against illegal sand mining in Uttar Pradesh was allegedly shot dead by the sand mafia on Wednesday just three days after IAS officer Durga Shakti Nagpal was suspended for taking them on.

Family members of 52-year-old Pale Ram Chauhan claimed he had been killed by three men who were connected to the sand mafia as he had been fighting against illegal mining in Raipur village, Noida.

Chauhan had filed several complaints with the district authorities and the police.

"My father consistently raised his voice against illegal mining in the village and had approached local authorities which irked the mining mafia," said Aakash Chauhan, son of Pale Ram Chauhan.

However, police have denied the role of the mining lobby in his shooting and has claimed that he was murdered in connection with a land dispute.