The rampant illegal transport of sand from Odisha to West Bengal escalated into severe violence on Sunday morning after the sand mafia brutally attacked locals attempting to halt the smuggling.
The incident, which occurred under the Talasari Marine Police Station jurisdiction in Bhograi block, Baleshwar, left BJP youth leader Dilip Kamila and another individual critically injured.
Despite the presence of a police camp at the Sahabajipur border, hundreds of heavy trucks (hyvas) loaded with illegally mined sand continue to cross into West Bengal daily. Locals allege that the minor minerals department and local police have turned a blind eye to the operation, effectively granting the mafia a free pass to run their illicit empire.
Frustrated by administrative inaction, local youth and political workers took matters into their own hands on Sunday to intercept the speeding sand trucks. In retaliation, the sand mafia launched a violent assault. Kamila and the second victim were initially rushed to the Jaleswarpur Community Health Centre (CHC) via a 108 ambulance. Due to the critical nature of their injuries, both were subsequently transferred to the District Headquarters Hospital.
The blatant border crossings and subsequent violence have sparked massive public outrage in the Sahabajipur area. Residents are questioning how heavy vehicles loaded with contraband can routinely bypass border checkpoints and are demanding immediate, strict legal action against the masterminds behind the smuggling network and the attackers.
Following the unrest, the Jaleswar Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) arrived at the scene to initiate an investigation. Acknowledging the public’s demands, the SDPO has assured residents that a 24-hour police patrol will be immediately deployed at the border to curb the illegal sand trade and restore order.
