Now, mining mafia attacks police, officials in MP

Panna: Close on the heels of the murder of an IPS officer by an alleged mining mafia, unidentified men today opened fire at police team which had gone to Ajaygarh to probe illegal mining in the area, police said. After receiving reports on illegal sand mining in Ajaygarh, 40 km from here, a team led by Sub Divisional Officer of Police, J S Markam went to spot to check out the facts, police said. According to the police, the illegal miners opened fire on the police party. [caption id=“attachment_240152” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“There were no reports of casualties and additional force has been rushed to the area, police said.”]  [/caption] There were no reports of casualties and additional force has been rushed to the area, police said. On 8 March, IPS officer Narendra Kumar Singh was mowed down under a tractor-trolley by an alleged member of the mining mafia, when he tried to stop a vehicle carrying stones in Morena district of Madhya Pradesh. Meanwhile, leader of the Opposition in Madhya Pradesh Assembly Ajay Singh  has charged the BJP-led state government with giving protection to the mining and liquor mafia. Asserting that a situation of anarchy was prevailing in Madhya Pradesh, Singh said to oppose this the Congress has given a call for a statewide bandh on March 13. “Illegal mining is at its peak in many districts in Madhya Pradesh at present… …. illegal mining and liquor mafia cannot flourish without the protection of the state government”, alleged Singh, who visited the spot where young IPS officer Narendra Kumar Singh was crushed to death on Holi day. On the day the IPS officer was killed, the liquor mafia had beaten up another such officer in Bhind district and the day before killed an assistant sub-inspector of police at Mandleshwar in Khargone district, the opposition leader stated. Agencies