Solan, August 28
Two alleged members of the mining mafia operating in Himachal Pradesh’s industrial belt of Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh (BBN) today obstructed the way of Superintendent of Police, Baddi, S Arul Kumar while he was going towards Manpura Khud to check illegal mining there around 8.30 pm yesterday.

The duo reportedly parked their tractor-trailers loaded with illegal mining material in front of the SP’s official vehicle, a Bolero (HP-12-C-7001), thus preventing him from going towards Manpura Khud where illegal mining was going on in full swing at the time of the incident.

S Arul Kumar was accompanied by gunman Subhash Chand and Sub-Inspector Tara Chand. Those driving the tractor-trailers were later identified as Gurjinder Singh and Mehar Chand of Kishenpura in Baddi. While one tractor was registered in Ropar (Pb-12-T-0793), the other had no registration number.

As the duo could not produce the M form or the permit for mining, their vehicles were impounded. They were booked under Section 341 of the IPC and Section 21 of the Mining Act for wrongful restraint, but no section pertaining to stopping an official from performing his duty was slapped against them. The duo was later let off.

The SP was hesitant to comment on the episode.

Director General of Police Sanjay Kumar, however, said the case was registered as per the complainant’s statement and the facts furnished by him.

On August 7, the driver of a tractor-trailer had hit the vehicle of the Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Nalagarh, thrice and tried to run it over on the Nalagarh-Ropar highway.

Sources say the state police appears to be acting under pressure of the mining mafia as even in case of the August 7 incident, Section 307 of the Indian Penal Code (attempt to murder) was first included in the First Information Report against the driver of a tractor-trailer, but later dropped.