Jabalpur Administration Moves Against Illegal Sand Mining After Media Report

A joint crackdown on illegal sand mining along the Narmada river and its tributaries in Jabalpur unfolded on Sunday, hours after Dainik Bhaskar published a ground report exposing the scale of the operation. Police personnel, revenue officials, and the district mineral department moved together across multiple sites, seizing stockpiled sand and demolishing the loading ramps that mining operators had constructed along the riverbanks.

Joint Team Fans Out Across Sites

Under the supervision of the Sub-Divisional Magistrate, the combined team conducted raids at more than half a dozen locations. District Mineral Officer A.K. Rai led a separate team into forested stretches along the river where complaints had been building for months. According to officials, several individuals fled the moment the team arrived on the scene.

At village Bahoreepar, acting on fresh inputs about ongoing extraction, SDM Abhishek Singh, CSP Bargi Anjul Ayak Mishra, Tehsildar Pradeep Tiwari, and local police reached Khasra No. 338 — a government land parcel — where three to four Hyva truck-loads of illegally stored sand were found. A panchnama was drawn up in the presence of the village kotwar, sarpanch, and panchs.

Sand Returned to the River

In an unusual step, the administration used a JCB machine to shift the seized sand back into the Narmada rather than transport it elsewhere. Officials stated that continuous drives against illegal storage and extraction would be carried out going forward.

Questions Over Scope of Crackdown

While the administration has presented Sunday's operation as a significant enforcement action, several local residents have expressed scepticism. The quantities recovered — roughly three to four truckloads — appear limited when weighed against the scale of extraction that the original Bhaskar report described. Critics noted that the areas most heavily exploited saw comparatively limited police presence.

The question of whether Sunday's drive marks the beginning of sustained enforcement or amounts to a one-time response to media pressure remains open.

Broader Context: Courts, Courts, Courts

Illegal sand mining along the Narmada is not a new flashpoint. The Supreme Court has previously issued directions concerning such extraction across Madhya Pradesh, including in the Chambal belt, where the court had reprimanded three states over non-compliance. Those directions remain in force.

Districts including Jabalpur, Narsinghpur, and Katni have repeatedly figured in complaints about round-the-clock mining using poklain excavators, country boats, and JCB machines. The Jabalpur raids signal that pressure — whether from the judiciary, the media, or both — may be producing at least some administrative response. Whether it holds is what observers will be watching over the coming weeks.

Forest Guard Killed by Sand Mafia in Morena; Murder Case Registered

A six-member Forest Department team came under attack from sand mafia operatives during a raid on illegal sand transportation near Ranpur village in Morena district on Wednesday morning. Forest guard Harkesh Gurjar was run over by a speeding tractor-trolley and died on the spot. Police have registered a murder case and launched a search for the main accused, driver Vinod Kori.

Team Raids Illegal Sand Transport

The team, led by Game Range Officer Veer Kumar Tirki, left for the spot around 5:30 am in a government vehicle after receiving specific information about illegal sand movement. The personnel included forest guards Sandeep, Shatrughan, Vinod and Harkesh Gurjar. They reached the Ranpur village crossroads in the Dimani police station area to intercept a sand-laden tractor-trolley.

Driver Attempts to Flee

According to the complaint filed by Veer Kumar Tirki at Dimani police station, driver Vinod Kori tried to escape with the vehicle when the team attempted to stop the operation. As Harkesh Gurjar stepped forward to block the tractor-trolley, Kori allegedly ran him over and sped away from the scene.

Guard Run Over on Spot

Harkesh Gurjar suffered fatal injuries and was declared dead at the spot. The incident occurred around 6 am. The tractor-trolley, reportedly jointly owned by Sonu Chauhan and Pawan Tomar, was carrying illegally mined sand at the time of the confrontation.

CCTV Footage Surfaces

CCTV cameras at a nearby petrol pump captured the accused Vinod Kori arriving with the same tractor-trolley minutes after the incident. Footage shows the vehicle narrowly escaping an overturn while entering the premises. Police are treating the visuals as crucial evidence in the case.

Officials Reach Crime Scene

Morena Collector Lokesh Kumar Jangid, Superintendent of Police Sameer Saurabh and Divisional Forest Officer Harishchandra Baghel rushed to the spot and spoke to eyewitnesses. The senior officials inspected the area and reviewed initial findings from the Forest Department team.

Political Leaders Intervene

Banku alias Captain Kansana, son of Agriculture Minister Edal Singh Kansana, reached the post-mortem house and demanded that a named FIR be registered against the accused. He alleged that police were pressuring the victim’s family over the phone to accept a general FIR. The Leader of Opposition also criticised the state government, claiming law and order had “completely collapsed”.

Police Assure Swift Action

Collector Jangid said he has directed police to raid possible hideouts of the accused and assured that the culprit would be arrested at the earliest. Additional SP Surendra Pal Singh confirmed that a murder case has been registered at Dimani police station and additional forces have been deployed in the area. The family of forest guard Harkesh Gurjar is in a state of shock following the killing.

The forest guard killed in Morena has once again highlighted the growing risks faced by frontline forest personnel while tackling illegal sand mining in the region. A manhunt is underway and further arrests are expected soon.