MP CM orders SIT probe into killing of cop by 'sand mafia'

Taking serious note of the killing of a police constable allegedly by sand mafia in Madhya Pradesh's Morena district, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan today said the case will be probed by a Special Investigation Team.

Chouhan reviewed the incident during a high-level meeting at Mantralaya and directed the officials concerned to take stern action in such cases, an official spokesman said.

The matter will be probed by an SIT, Chouhan said at the meeting.

Terming the incident as "unfortunate", he directed the officials concerned to submit the report on the matter within 15 days.

State Home Minister Babulal Gaur was also present at the meeting.

40-year-old constable Dharmendra Chouhan, posted at Noorabad police station, was mowed down allegedly by sand mafia when he tried to stop a dumper carrying illegally mined sand from Chambal river near a village in Morena district in the wee hours yesterday.

A case under section 304 of the IPC (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) was filed against the dumper driver, who fled from the spot after the incident.

The Madhya Pradesh High Court banned sand mining in the river more than five years ago in response to a PIL, observing that it posed threat to gharials who lay eggs in the sand.

In March 2012, IPS officer Narendra Kumar was mowed down by a tractor allegedly owned by sand mafia in Morena district.

A CBI probe was later conducted into the killing and the accused, Manoj Gurjar, was arrested. He was later awarded a 10-year jail term.