Ramtek SDO Virani said, “We had detained some vehicles to check transit passes and other documents related to sand transport. Some trucks disobeyed our signals to stop for checking and started fleeing. We decided to chase one of them.A green Nano car first followed our vehicle and then started ramming into our vehicle to block our way.”
“The transit pass (TP) of the detained vehicle showed it was issued from Rajnandgaon in Chhattisgarh and was going to deliver it in Nagpur. We need to check whether the TP was genuine, though it had already lapsed when detained by us. The trucks were all appearing heavily overloaded. The GPS location of the trucks had also to be checked,” said Virani.
Sources said two teams of the revenue department, including one under Virani, had planned the action against the almost unhindered flow of sand trucks from Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh via Bhandara to Nagpur city, crossing Tumsar in Ramtek district.
“We had received information that the stretch between Ghotitok-Airoli-Mouda is mostly used by sand mafia entering Nagpur district from Bhandara district. Accordingly, a surprise check was planned,” said Virani. Her report led to the registration of offence of attempt to murder under section 307, and also causing obstruction to government officials under section 353 of the Indian Penal Code at the Ramtek police station.
SP Harssh A Poddar said one person has already been rounded up while others are being traced. “The senior brass is looking into the incident, to verify whether there was any involvement of anyone from the local police units,” he said, adding stringent action has been initiated.
The Nagpur district sand mafia has deep connections within the police and revenue departments, it’s learnt. Sources said the registration number of the Nano car suggested it is owned by someone at Kharbi in Nagpur.
