Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh - Over the last five years, the sand mafia in Madhya Pradesh has woven a narrative of terror, corruption, and environmental devastation through the state’s riverbanks, particularly along the Chambal, Narmada, and Son rivers. This story, pieced together from various incidents, legal documents, and firsthand accounts, exposes the grim reality of illegal sand mining that has claimed lives, challenged law enforcement, and left the state’s natural resources in peril.
The Genesis of the Problem
The sand mafia’s influence has grown under the shadow of a construction boom, where sand, a critical component for concrete, became a commodity as precious as gold. The mafia’s power is rooted in a nexus involving local politicians, corrupt officials, and musclemen, turning the once serene riverbanks into battlegrounds.
A Trail of Blood
• September 2018: The death of a forest department officer, Mahendra Bagri, in Shahdol district, was one of the earliest recorded incidents. Bagri was crushed under a sand-laden tractor while trying to stop illegal mining near the Samdhin River. The driver, Raj Rawat, was arrested, but the owner of the tractor escaped, highlighting the mafia’s audacity.
• November 2018: Another forest officer, Prashann Singh, met a similar fate in Shahdol when he was run over by a tractor during a raid at Gopalpur village. The incident underscored the mafia’s lethal force against any opposition.
• March 2019: A journalist, Sandeep Sharma, investigating sand mafia activities in Bhind, was mowed down by a truck, a stark reminder of the risks involved in exposing these illegal operations.
The Law Enforcement’s Battle
• 2019: In a rare show of force, IPS officer Rajesh Hingankar led raids in Bhind, seizing sand worth Rs 60 lakh. This operation resulted in the suspension of several police officers, including Yatendra Bhadauria and Vijay Tomar, accused of providing patronage to the mafia.
• May 2024: Assistant Sub-Inspector Mahendra Bagri was again in the headlines, this time posthumously, as his death led to public outcry and questions about police protection. The Madhya Pradesh High Court took note, seeking details on how the government plans to curb such killings.
The Faces Behind the Sand
• Lale Vaishya - Mentioned in connection with a tribal farmer’s death in Singrauli, where his tractor allegedly ran over Indrapal Agariya, who tried to stop the vehicle from passing through his land.
• Ashutosh Singh - Son of a tractor owner, arrested alongside Raj Rawat following Bagri’s death.
• Raj Rawat - The young driver involved in the killing of Mahendra Bagri, showing how even minors are roped into this dangerous trade.
Political and Administrative Collusion
• Govind Singh, a former minister, accused the system of corruption, stating that 90% of policemen and 10% of mining officials were involved with the sand mafia, a claim that led to significant political fallout.
• Computer Baba, a self-proclaimed godman and chairman of the river trust, announced a unique strategy in 2019 to deploy 2000 sadhus to monitor illegal mining, though the impact of this initiative remains unclear.
Environmental Catastrophe
The relentless extraction has not only led to human casualties but has also devastated river ecosystems. The Narmada, Ken, Betwa, Sindh, Chambal, and Son rivers have seen their beds depleted, affecting water flow, aquifers, and local biodiversity.
A Call for Action
Despite numerous operations, the sand mafia’s grip seems unshaken. High-profile cases have occasionally led to arrests, but the network often rebounds, with new players or old ones under different guises. The state government has announced probes, special investigation teams, and even rewarded informants, yet the illicit sand trade continues.
The story of Madhya Pradesh’s sand mafia is a stark reminder of how environmental crimes can intertwine with human tragedy and systemic corruption. From the banks of the Narmada to the courts of Bhopal, the battle against this mafia requires not just law enforcement but a societal shift towards valuing our natural resources and the lives protecting them. The names of the fallen officers and the land they died to protect whisper a plea for change, for justice, and for an end to this cycle of violence and greed.