Suspecting violence, section 144 imposed in sand mining areas of Chattarpur

Bhopal: Suspecting violence and gangwar in the sand mines of Ken river in Bundelkhand, the district administration of Chattarpur has imposed prohibitory orders under section 144 in the mine areas. The administration has banned use of heavy machines in the mines.

Chattarpur district collector Mohit Bundus issued an order prohibiting mining from 9 pm to 7 am. It has also barred people from carrying arms in the mining areas of the district. Besides, the use of heavy machines to mine the mineral has been banned. The administration swung into action on February 26 after the leaders of the BJP and Congress traded charges of indulging in illegal sand mining in Ken river area.

Though the administration imposed section 144, the situation has not changed on the ground. Heavy machines are still being deployed for sand mining in Chhatarpur district. Heavy machines are being used to mine sand after which it is loaded in trucks for transportion to Uttar Pradesh, alleged RD Prajapati, former BJP MLA from Chandla. He said that the section 144 is a farce. “Firing is taking place daily in Rampur ghat area in Chandla,” he said.

Infact, Prajapati had raised the issue and levelled allegations that Congress leaders are involved in illegal sand mining in the region. “They want to form a cartel to control sand mining”, he alleged. He said that as MLA he had raised the issue in the state assembly.

Replying to the allegations of Prajapati, Alok Chaturvedi, Congress MLA of Chattarpur, said that Prajapati is himself involved in illegal sand mining and now when the Congress government has checked the menace, the former BJP MLA is making false accusation.

Sources in the district administration said that “tension is building up in the sand mining areas of Chattarpur, Panna and Banda districts.” Sources also said that mafia men carrying fire arms can be seen roaming in the region. Sources also claimed that sand mafia is very strong and influential and has political patronage leading to trouble.