Naib Tehsildar Shani Dwivedi, who is also holding additional charge as Tehsildar, said unknown individuals are tracking his movements using black-filmed Bolero and Scorpio vehicles. He claimed the persistent surveillance has caused severe mental stress and fear, preventing him from performing official duties effectively.
Dwivedi was attacked on the night of January 5 in the Beohari area while attempting to intercept suspected illegal mining activity. According to his statement, sand mafia members tried to ram his government vehicle and later attempted to assault him with a wooden stick. He narrowly escaped serious injury after his vehicle veered off the road and avoided crashing into a tree.
“After the attack, my movements are being monitored. Vehicles with black films follow me regularly. This has created constant fear,” Dwivedi said. He added that despite the seriousness of the incident, the main accused has not been arrested even ten days later.
Two videos of the incident have surfaced, one showing the road being blocked with a motorcycle and another capturing a man running towards the officer with a stick. Dwivedi said the tractor involved spilled sand on the road during a high-speed escape, making pursuit impossible on narrow rural roads.
Following the incident, Dwivedi met Collector Kedar Singh for nearly two hours. The Collector has reportedly been counselling him twice daily. Dwivedi has also requested a transfer, citing concerns for his family’s safety. His wife, mother and two young daughters are said to be living in constant fear.
Police officials confirmed that an FIR was registered on the same night. However, only the motorcycle used in the incident has been seized so far. The tractor and the main accused, identified as Amardeep Bais alias Jhabbu, remain at large. Police said efforts to arrest the accused are ongoing.
The case has also exposed wider administrative challenges. Dwivedi said no patwari is now willing to accompany him on raids due to fear, noting that a patwari and an assistant sub-inspector were killed by sand mafia members in the region over the past two years.
Despite cancellation of sand mining contracts in Shahdol, illegal extraction from the Son River is reportedly continuing on a large scale, with hundreds of tractor-trolleys operating nightly. Officials admit the incident has highlighted serious gaps in enforcement and the urgent need to ensure the safety of government officers.
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