MP: Suspected mining mafia opens fire on Forest personnel; one hurt

A 40-year-old man, suspected to be involved in illegal stone mining, was injured during an exchange of fire between Forest personnel and unidentified people at Pahori village near here today, a police officer said.
The incident occurred when some men were fleeing with a tractor-trolley, suspected to be laden with illegally mined stones, fired upon a flying squad of the forest personnel when they tried to intercept the tractor on Karah Road, some 17 km from the district headquarters.
"Instead of stopping, the fleeing men dashed the vehicle of the forest personnel with their tractor and fired from a country-made pistol. They also hurled stones at the personnel," said Sub-Divisional Officer of Police (SDOP) Atmaram Sharma.

He said the man, identified as Rajkumar Gurjar, sustained splinter injuries when the forest personnel returned the fire.
Gurjar, a local resident, fled the spot soon after the incident.
"We have registered a case against unidentified persons and efforts are on to arrest them," he said.