Illegal Gravel Mining Sparks Violence Against Law Enforcement

Authorities in Rajasthan are grappling with a surge in attacks on teams tasked with curbing unlawful sand and gravel mining. In Sawai Madhopur, a tractor‑trolley loaded with illegally sourced gravel struck a police constable, leaving him in critical condition. The incident occurred as the constable attempted to stop the vehicle near the Chauth Ka Barwada outpost. A senior woman also received injuries while carrying animal fodder. The driver fled, and police have intensified raids to apprehend him. This latest aggression follows the alleged death of forest ranger Pratap Singh Chundawat in Pratapgarh, who was reportedly run over by a dumper truck while confronting illegal extraction. The Supreme Court has recently ordered Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh to submit compliance reports on the ban of illegal mining in the Chambal region, yet field-level violence persists.