NUH, HARYANA: In the fear of being picked up by police or getting arrested, following the murder of Mewat DSP Surendra Singh Bishnoi on Tuesday, the majority of men of Panchgaon village have left their houses. The reason is that: Majority of youths of this village indulge in mining activity which was legal before the 2009 Supreme Court order.
The residents of this village said the main occupation of these villagers is to break rocks and transport tonnes of stones to other places like Gurugram, Faridabad and Alwar in Rajasthan. But after the 2009 SC ban on mining, the villagers were left in the lurch.
“In the backdrop of under development, lack of proper education and other work opportunities, people of this region still depend on quarrying of stones,” a resident of Panchgoan told The New Indian.
Mohammad Ayub, who was herding his stock at the hills of Aravalli near Panchgaon, said the mining of these hills was a continuous activity.
“Whenever you come, you would spot at least two to three dumper trucks moving on the hills. They drill the rock with machines and then fill it with explosives to blast. Sometimes, my animals get hurt with the falling stones,” Ayub said.
“Lot of people had complained to the police (about illegal mining). But these people (mining mafia) don’t care. They attack even the cops,” he said.
Other residents of Panchgaon, while accepting they are indulged in the mining, said they only sell stones which are broken down naturally.
Nuh Police also believe there is no organised gang behind the mining. “Locals involved in the activity for their personal gain,” said a police officer.
The truck driver Mittar, who was driving the vehicle that mowed down the slain DSP, and Ikkar, the cleaner of the vehicle who was shot in the leg by the police, are residents of this village. Both are in police custody.
Police in its FIR said apart from the driver and helper, a few more persons were sitting in the truck. They are also believed to be from the same region.