Illegal mining raid turns fatal in Jabalpur:Man jumps into river fearing team, dies; villagers accuse police of lathi-charge

In Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, during a raid against illegal mining on Monday afternoon, around 2 PM, a young man, fearing the mining team, jumped into the Narmada river. He drowned and died. His 4-5 companions fled the scene. The incident occurred at Khiraini sand ghat in Barela police station area. According to information, the deceased has been identified as 25-year-old Manak Verma, a resident of Jamtara village. After his death, family members and villagers surrounded the police and mineral department team. Villagers alleged lathi-charge During this, a large number of villagers protested. Police from Barela, along with Ranjhi, Gorabazar, and Khamaria police station areas, reached the spot and tried to pacify the villagers. Villagers deflated the tires of the team’s vehicles and alleged lathi-charge. See these pictures Youth jumped into the river out of fear Family members alleged that Manak Verma was surrounded by the SDM and mining team. To escape, he jumped into the river out of fear. They say that if the team had only seized his vehicle instead of chasing and trying to catch him, his life could have been saved. Family members allege police-mining team takes bribes Family members alleged that big mining mafias receive protection from the police administration, while those extracting sand in sacks at a small scale are repeatedly targeted. They say that the police and mining department teams collude with the mafia and take bribes. Villagers made serious allegations Villagers alleged that large vehicles are continuously operating, but instead of stopping them, they are let go after taking bribes. Meanwhile, those carrying sand in sacks are apprehended. They questioned why an attempt was made to catch the youth when he was fleeing. His vehicle was parked at the spot; it could have been seized. Mining Officer said – Our team did not take action District Mining Officer AK Rai said that he has no information about what happened at Jamtara Khiraini Ghat and which youth died. He said that his team had not taken action. It is possible that the police team went with the SDM, because the revenue department also has the right to take action on illegal mining. Incident occurred during a joint operation ASP Suryakant Sharma said that illegal mining had been going on for a long time at Jamtara Ghat in Gaur Chowki area. On Monday afternoon, a joint operation was carried out, in which the revenue, mining department and police team, led by the SDM, raided the spot. Meanwhile, young man Akash Verma jumped into the river upon seeing the team. Due to the great depth, he could not get out. The SDRF team was immediately called, but by the time he was pulled out, he had already died.