Shahdol’s Naib Tehsildar alleges sand mafia surveillance, fears attack:Says, ‘Bolero and Scorpio vehicles follow him’; claims mental stress prevent him from performing official duties

A Naib Tehsildar in Shahdol has alleged that the sand mafia is keeping him under constant surveillance following a deadly attack on him earlier this month.
Claiming severe mental stress and fear for his safety, the officer said black-filmed SUVs follow his vehicle and unknown people monitor his movements. “After the sand mafia attack, unknown people are keeping a watch on my activities. Black-filmed Bolero and Scorpio vehicles follow my car. Because of this, I am under mental stress,” the officer said. The officer, Naib Tehsildar Shani Dwivedi, was attacked on January 5 in the Beohari area of Shahdol, where sand mafia members allegedly tried to kill him. Even 10 days after the incident, police have failed to arrest the main accused. Dwivedi is also holding additional charge of Tehsildar. Fear after the attack, daily counselling by collector Since the incident, the officer has been living in fear. On Monday, he met Collector Kedar Singh for nearly two hours. The Collector has reportedly been counselling him twice daily. Two videos from the night of the incident have surfaced—one showing the sand mafia blocking the road with a motorcycle, and another showing a man running towards the officer with a wooden stick to attack him. Dainik Bhaskar spoke to Dwivedi over the phone. While he avoided speaking openly due to administrative pressure, he narrated the entire incident indirectly. The night of the attack: “My car nearly crashed into a tree” Shani Dwivedi, a resident of Chand Sirmaur village in Rewa, said he was posted in the area last year after clearing the MPPSC exam. “I thought I would work honestly,” he said. On the night of January 5, around 10 pm, he received information about illegal wood cutting on government land in Sarwahi Khurd. He called a trusted patwari and set out in a government vehicle. About 8–10 km ahead, they heard a tractor. Suspecting illegal activity, they parked the vehicle and waited. “When the tractor crossed us, I chased it thinking it was carrying wood. But it was loaded with sand,” he said. The tractor driver sped away and allegedly tried to ram Dwivedi’s Bolero. “While trying to save ourselves, our car went off the road and narrowly escaped crashing into a tree.” High-speed chase, sand spilled on road Dwivedi said the patwari began recording a video as a man standing on the tractor trolley opened its back using a spade, causing sand to spill onto the road. The tractor zig-zagged at high speed, making pursuit impossible on the narrow road. They informed the police and reached Pasgadhi intersection. Dwivedi was shocked when only one constable arrived for help, despite informing senior officers. “Who called the police?” mafia blocks the road Dwivedi said they went towards the accused’s village with the constable when Amardeep Singh Bais, the alleged sand mafia operator, arrived on a motorcycle and blocked their vehicle. “He shouted, ‘Who called the police?’ When I said I am the Naib Tehsildar, he replied, ‘Whether you are a tehsildar or an MLA, why are you troubling us?’” The accused allegedly returned with a thick wooden stick and tried to attack them. “We somehow escaped and rushed back to the crossing.” Dwivedi said he again called police officials, expecting immediate action. “Instead, they told me the accused wouldn’t be found at night and would be picked up in the morning.” Family in fear, transfer requested Dwivedi said police action the next morning was weak, leaving him disheartened. “I don’t know how to work here anymore,” he said. His family—wife, mother, elder brother, and two daughters—are deeply worried and have asked him to stay away from such actions. “They ask me every day whether the accused has been arrested. I have no answer,” he said, adding that he has requested a transfer. “My every movement is being watched” Dwivedi said he has been posted in the area since May 2024. “The mafia has always kept track of my movements—where I go and why. After the incident, unknown people are watching my house and office. Black-filmed vehicles follow me whenever I go for action.” No Patwari willing to accompany him now Dwivedi revealed that in the last two years, a patwari and an ASI were killed by the sand mafia in the Beohari region. “That is why revenue staff fear taking action against illegal mining. After the attack on me, no patwari is willing to go on raids.” No arrests even after a week Seven days after the incident, police have neither recovered the tractor nor arrested the attacker. Only the motorcycle used to block Dwivedi’s vehicle has been seized. The main accused, Amardeep Bais alias Jhabbu, is reportedly related to a BJP mandal president, according to sources. Pressure not to file FIR alleged Sources claimed that on the night of the incident, several BJP leaders pressured Dwivedi not to file an FIR, suggesting the matter be “settled internally”. “But I did not agree and went to Beohari police station to register an FIR,” Dwivedi said. Police, administration respond SDOP Mukesh Abhidra said, “The FIR was registered immediately. I will check what action has been taken so far.” Beohari SHO Rishabh Chhari said, “One bike used in the incident has been seized. The main accused and tractor are yet to be caught. Arrests will be made soon.” Collector Kedar Singh said, “The district administration is serious. An inquiry has been ordered and police are investigating. Major action will be taken soon.” Illegal sand mining continues despite contract cancellation Despite cancellation of the sand mining contract in Shahdol, illegal mining continues unabated. Every day, sand worth crores of rupees is allegedly stolen from the Son River and transported to Rewa, Satna, Maihar and Prayagraj. Over 500 tractor-trolleys reportedly operate every night from different river ghats. Illegal miners are said to be armed and conduct surveillance, attacking anyone who resists. The case has raised serious questions about officer safety and the unchecked influence of the sand mafia in the region.