Nagpur: Cracking the whip, Nagpur Police on Friday invoked the stringent provisions of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against sand smugglers Ashraf Khan Alai Khan, Javed Khan Hamid Khan and their accomplices who attacked the Revenue Department Circle Officer Anil Brahme and his team near Bahadura Phata last Sunday in a second assault in 24 hours. Earlier, the mafia thrashed Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) Vandana Virani at Ramtek when their consignment was seized.
Around 6.30 am on January 14, the Revenue Officer Anil Babanrao Brahme (53), a resident of Tiranga Chowk, Om Nagar, was initiating action against the truckers carrying illegally excavated sand in their vehicles without paying the royalty near Bahadura Phata on Umrer Road. Ashraf Khan Alai Khan (29), a resident of Kharbi, behind Raza Masjid, and truck owner Javed Khan Hamid Khan (32), a resident of Baba Farid Nagar, involved in illegally dredging sand from rivers and supplying them to contractors along with their five-six accomplices had abused and assaulted Brahme, besides issuing him life threats.
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After hurling filthy abuses at Brahme and again threatening him of dire consequences, they fled in a Hyundai Creta car and Maruti Brezza. Both their cars had no number plates. Following Brahme’s complaint, Wathoda Police registered a case under Sections 143,147,149,332,353, 504,506(b) of the Indian Penal Code read with Sections 48, 7 of the Maharashtra Land Revenue Code against them.
Ashraf Khan Alai Khan and Javed Khan Hamid Khan were arrested. Investigations revealed that they and their accomplices were involved in several sand smuggling cases and were operating the racket in an organised way. Subsequently, the Wathoda Police prepared a proposal to book them under MCOCA. The Additional Commissioner of Police (South) cleared the proposal and the gang was booked under MCOCA.
The Commissioner of Police Amitesh Kumar said the police would come down heavily on anyone indulging in illegal sand transportation, causing losses to the state exchequer.
“Investigations would help us track the root of the racketeers, their key logistics providers, and ill-gotten wealth. The sand mafia is under police surveillance. More seizures and arrests are likely in the coming days,” Kumar said.
