BJP MLA calls off protest against illegal sand mining in Uttar Pradesh as police assures probe

Lakhimpur Kheri: BJP MLA from Lakhimpur Yogesh Verma on Sunday called off his protest after he was assured by the police and the district administration that a probe will be ordered into illegal sand mining. [caption id=“attachment_1689139” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Representational image. AFP[/caption] Verma had been on a sit-in-protest since last evening. He had alleged that he was “attacked and threatened” by some persons when he stopped tractor-trolleys which were allegedly carrying illegally mined sand, at the city over-bridge on Saturday night. He also accused the Kotwali police of exercising “laxity”, “which resulted in two nabbed accused fleeing the spot”. Verma, who also accused the police of being in “connivance” with sand miners, ended his protest after assurances by the senior officials of the police and the district administration. District magistrate Akashdeep said all the seven trolleys which the MLA suspected of carrying illegally mined sand have been seized and the mining inspector has been instructed to carry out a probe. “A probe into the alleged misbehaviour by Kotwali city in-charge has been instructed, while an FIR against four persons who were accused of attacking the MLA lodged,” he said.