Illegal sand transport turns deadly:Youth crushed by tractor, villagers set trolley on fire; 2 injured

In Shahdol’s Gohparu police station area, on Wednesday morning, a tractor-trolley loaded with illegal sand hit bike rider Shankar Pratap Sahu (35). He died on the spot in the accident. Two other youths were seriously injured. After the incident, villagers protested demanding compensation and set fire to the crashed tractor. Additional police force had to be deployed to control the situation. According to eyewitnesses, a speeding tractor-trolley hit the bike near Pathira Mod. The collision was so severe that the youth died on the spot. Two companions riding on the bike were seriously injured. After the accident, the tractor-trolley went out of control, overturned in a field by the roadside, and the driver fled. See 3 pictures after the accident The angry crowd set fire to the overturned tractor Upon receiving information about the accident, the deceased’s family members and hundreds of villagers from nearby villages reached the spot. The villagers alleged that illegal sand mining and transportation have been going on in the area for a long time, but the concerned department is not taking action. In anger, the crowd set fire to the overturned tractor. Due to the commotion, the police had to struggle to take possession of the body. Preliminary investigation revealed that sand was being illegally transported in the tractor from the Dhaunha river. Station In-charge deployed at the spot with police force Upon receiving information, Station In-charge Rajkumar Mishra reached the accident site with police force. Seeing the tense situation, additional police force was called. Efforts were made to calm the villagers. The Station In-charge stated that one youth died and two were injured in the road accident. He assured that the entire matter, including illegal sand transportation, circumstances of the accident, and arson, would be investigated and action would be taken as per rules.