Morena: Women forest officers fear among sand mafia, 8 attacks in three months; Still doing duty without fear

In the district, a forest officer Shraddha Pandre has become a challenge for the sand mafia. Those working on the post of SDO are performing their duty honestly and without fear and this is the reason why sand has become a big challenge for the mafia. She has been attacked eight times to stop them, but she is doing her duty without fear. She does not shy away from taking action against illegal sand and facing the mafia. She also has a one-and-a-half-year-old son, whom she keeps on doing her duty day and night, leaving the trust of her servant. This is the reason why the sand mafia is scared of them.

The attack on the forest department team started on 24 April near the Solanki petrol pump between the RTO barrier and the forest post. During this illegal sand, a tractor-trolley was caught. At the same time, an empty tractor-trolley came at a high speed and hit the dumper of the forest department. After this, a mafia riding on a tractor took out a Katta and fired at SDO Shraddha's car.

This was followed by a second attack on May 22 near the registrar's office, where two tractor-trolleys loaded with illegal sand were siege and caught. After this, a tractor-riding mafia tried to mount a tractor on SDAO Shraddha, but she survived. The third attack took place on May 5 at the block of the forest department. The forest department team had caught the tractor-trolley of illegal sand. On this, the sand mafia riding on the tractor pointed a gun at the forehead of a forest worker and fled from there threatening to shoot. About 10 minutes later, two sand mafia came riding on a bike, who fired three shots at the SDO and the Forest Department team. In response, the forest department team also started firing. After this, the sand mafia fled from there. On June 3, the forest department team was attacked in Jatawar village. After this, more than 100 sand mafia operatives surrounded VanTeam and attacked them with sticks, guns, and stones in the Degavadh police station area and snatched the tractor-trolley of sand.

A group of the sand mafia was also attacked in Pura village of Lahori, a kilometer away from the Deogarh police station area, and snatched a tractor-trolley of illegal sand and escaped. One SAF jawan was injured in this attack. Here SDO of the Forest Department, Shraddha Pandre along with her team had gone out on patrol at night. Around 7 pm, he had caught a tractor-trolley carrying illegal sand near Pathanpura village. The employees of the Forest Department were going towards Devgarh police station with a tractor-trolley when more than a hundred sand mafias blocked the way by placing bushes and stones on the road near Pura village of Lahori.

After attacking the forest workers, they fled after snatching all the tractor trolleys filled with sand. Meanwhile, the sand mafia attacked with sticks and stones by encircling the vehicle of SDO Shraddha Pandre, coming in Bolero's car behind. SDO Pandre says that he immediately informed the station in charge of Deogarh, but even after 1 hour, no policeman came from just 1 kilometer away. Not only this, even after the attack, the Deogarh police station in charge did not examine any of his inquiries. The SDO has asked to complain about this matter to senior officers.