Bhopal: The Madhya Pradesh government on Sunday blamed the Opposition Congress for the attacks on police officials and the murder of an IPS officer in the state over the past one week, saying that it was a conspiracy hatched by the Congress.
IPS officer Narendra Kumar was allegedly crushed to death under a tractor that was loaded with illegally-mined stones in Morena, Madhya Pradesh on Thursday. Kumar had tried to stop the tractor. The tractor driver, however, kicked him and Kumar fell down. The driver then reportedly ran the tractor over him.
Meanwhile, in another suspected attack by the mining mafia, a judicial team, on its way to investigate reports of illegal sand mining, was ambushed in Panna by unidentified gunmen on Saturday evening. The team included a Sub-Divisional Magistrate, a Sub-Divisional police officer among others. While all of them escaped unhurt, the fact that this was the second attack in two days, has become a cause for concern. The police has claimed that the assailants in this case too belonged to the illegal mining mafia.
Kailash Vijayvargiya, MP Industry Minister, said, "This is a conspiracy that has been hatched by the Congress. The place where the incident took place, a Congress man was being investigated and it is said that he was involved in the incident. The police is looking into the matter."
Uma Shankar Gupta, state Home Minister, said, "Shivraj Singh started taking on the land mafia, mining mafia and other white collar people, who were prospering when the Congress was in power. These people thought that nobody could stand against them, but were shocked after the MP government's crackdown. This incident is merely a reaction to their shock."
The Congress, in turn has blamed the government of trying to deflect responsibility. Abhay Dube, a Congress spokesperson, said, "Whenever there is a case of rape or any criminal activity like this incident that involves the mining mafia, the state government conveniently places the blame on the Opposition and tries to absolve itself of all responsibilities."
Meanwhile, other political parties have not ruled out political complicity. CPI(M) leader D Raja remarked that the killing was nothing but a cold blooded murder. He added, "Unless there was political patronage, such a killing cannot take place. A CBI probe is very much required in this case. The MP government should see how such kind of mafias can function in the state leading to such deaths. Strict action should be taken."
Janata Dal (United) leader Sharad Yadav said he will speak to Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on the murder of the IPS officer and the growing illegal mining mafia in the state. "I will speak to the chief minister and ask him for strict action against the accused who are behind the murder of such a young IPS officer," said Yadav.
The wife of the slain officer, meanwhile, has demanded a CBI probe into his death, claiming that it was a murder and not an accident. "This was not an accident. I have worked in that area. If you are involved in such work then you will end up getting killed. I expect the government to order a CBI inquiry," she said.
Officers working in the belt have often alleged a nexus between the mining mafia and local politicians.
Prakash Verma, mining officer in Chhatarpur, said, "These people (mining mafia) are working under the shelter of locals leaders. They are trying to threaten us. The sand mafia even made a bridge in Panna for illegal mining."
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