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IAS officer threatened at gunpoint during sand mining raid, seeks police protection

  • Sonia Meena, IAS officer in UP was attacked by mining mafia during a raid
  • IAS officer had shot-off a mail to the Chief secretary requesting security
  • Meena, who is expected to give a statement against the sand mining mafia, is anticipating a threat to her life.
IAS officer Mining raid Threatened at gunpoint

A senior IAS officer, who is to appear before the court against local mining mafia, has approached the state government with request for increase in her security. The IAS officer from Umaria district of Madhya Pradesh is reportedly facing threat to her life.

Sonia Meena had carried out a raid on February 6 and had intercepted a lorry laden with illegal sand. Meena then had asked her security guard to seize the vehicle, however, the driver of the vehicle - Arjun Singh Bundela had whipped out a gun and had then fled the scene. He was later arrested by the police and is currently lodged at the Chhatarpur jail.

The state government on chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's directions has extensively been cracking down on illegal mining. The IAS officer personally has been responsible for several raids on illegal quarries in Chhatarpur district, said to be one of the areas worst affected by illegal mining.

In her letter to chief secretary, the 2013-batch IAS officer, stated that she is sensing an attack from Arjun Singh Bundela, who is currently lodged in Chhatarpur jail. The officer said that she fears that Bundela might carry out an attack against her through his "henchmen" during trial.

"We have increased security given to Meena who is also the district panchayat's chief executive officer," Umaria collector Abhishek Singh told PTI. However, Meena could not be contacted.

"During one of the raids on 6/2/2017 (against mining mafia) I and my guard were attacked and threatened at gunpoint by a man called Arjun Singh Bundela," said her letter to the chief secretary, written on June 11.

Following this incident, Bundela was arrested. "I have learnt from reliable sources that the accused is conspiring to attack me again through his henchmen... I fear for my life," the letter said.

Meena also has requested for additional security while travelling to the court. “I should be provided additional security during the journey to Chhatarpur court and back, so that I can give my statement without any hindrance and fear" the letter said.

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