A tragic incident has shaken West Singhbhum district, where illegal sand mining activities have escalated to deadly violence. In Mundai village, under the jurisdiction of Jaitgarh OP police station, a young man named Deepak Pradhan was fatally crushed by a tractor while protesting against the illicit transportation of sand. This horrific event has sent shockwaves through the entire region, highlighting the grave dangers associated with the illegal sand trade.
Following the incident on Friday, enraged villagers staged a protest, blocking the road with the deceased’s body for several hours and chanting slogans against the administration. Upon receiving information, police arrived at the scene and worked to restore order. Authorities have seized the tractor involved in the incident and sent the body for post-mortem examination to Chaibasa Sadar Hospital. As of now, no arrests have been made in connection with the case.
Jagannathpur Police Station in-charge, Avinash Kumar, stated that the tractor has been confiscated and a thorough investigation into the entire matter is underway. He clarified that while Deepak Pradhan was known to oppose illegal mining, his death occurred during an accident while attempting to stop the vehicle. Local residents allege that illegal sand mining and smuggling have been rampant in the area for a long time, with sand mafias continuing their operations undeterred by community opposition. Villagers have accused the police and mining department of negligence, emboldening the sand mafias. They are demanding immediate arrest and strict action against those responsible for the killing, along with a complete ban on illegal mining in the area.