India

Rajasthan Orders Weapons and Vehicles for Forest Staff Amid Illegal Sand Mining Attacks

By HT Correspondent

Rajasthan chief secretary V Srinivas has instructed officials to provide weapons and vehicles to forest personnel operating in vulnerable areas of the National Chambal Gharial Sanctuary. He also called for a joint action plan to curb illegal sand mining after a series of attacks on frontline staff confronting mining operators.

Chairing a state‑level coordination and monitoring committee meeting convened under Supreme Court directions, Srinivas stressed a zero‑tolerance approach toward illegal mining, stronger field patrolling and inspections of vulnerable areas by senior officers. He directed departments to coordinate their efforts and submit compliance reports on time.

The directives come after multiple attacks linked to alleged illegal mining. Police constable Surendra Singh was injured when a speeding tractor‑trolley, allegedly involved in illegal sand mining, ran over his leg in Sawai Madhopur’s Chauth Ka Barwara area on Oct. 7. He was taken to Jaipur for treatment; an elderly woman was also injured, and the driver fled the scene.

Other incidents include the death of forest ranger Pratap Singh Chundawat on Sept. 21, when he was dragged by a dumper while trying to flag down a vehicle suspected of illegal mining. Following his death, the Supreme Court on Sept. 23 directed the Rajasthan government to file a report on the continuing menace of illegal sand mining in the Chambal sanctuary.

On Sept. 26, a forest team was allegedly attacked with stones and gunfire after seizing a tractor‑trolley and a compressor machine during action against illegal mining near Kondapura village in Bharatpur district. Earlier attacks were reported in Tonk in August and at a forest outpost in the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve in March.

The Supreme Court has directed Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh to strengthen surveillance, establish checkposts, take action against organised mining networks and protect frontline forest personnel. It has also asked the states to consider preventive detention against alleged kingpins and habitual offenders involved in organised illegal sand mining.

During a visit to Kota, Srinivas inspected the cyber police station, New Medical College Hospital and Kota Super Thermal Power Station, and reviewed the Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari campaign. He reviewed registered cases, investigations, arrests and charge‑sheet status at the cyber police station, and urged better coordination between banks and police to protect cyber‑fraud victims. He directed officials to raise the issue in District Level Bankers’ Committee meetings.

At New Medical College Hospital, he called for complete digitisation of government hospitals while prioritising patient care, improving medical education, research and publications, and strengthening maternal and child healthcare services. He directed officials to ensure early identification and regular monitoring of high‑risk pregnancies, adequate antenatal check‑ups and blood supplies, adherence to treatment protocols and better referral transport facilities. He also inspected the neonatal intensive care unit and maternity ward and interacted with a patient admitted for delivery.