Mining mafia fires during surprise check (Times of India 18 March 2010)

Greater Noida: Officials of the special mining squad, including a sub-divisional magistrate and a deputy superintendent of police, had a narrow escape when the mining mafia opened fire at them during a surprise check in Maujabad area of Greater Noida. However, no one was injured as they managed to flee.
Police immediately sprung into action and arrested 12 accused from Mungabad area in Greater Noida. However, two of their accomplices are still on the run and police hope to nab them soon. ‘‘The accused are members of Naresh Bhati gang. We have recovered one JCB, four dumpers and other machinery and a Ford Fiesta from Kasna area,’’ said S K Verma, SP (rural Noida).
‘‘When I along with DSP Shailendra Lal reached the area on a surprise check we were fired upon,’’ claimed Vishal Singh, SDM of the area.
‘‘In March, illegal mining of sand from the Yamuna takes place in the area. This is the first time that we decided to track the mafia in Greater Noida. Hence, a special team was formed to check the mining mafia,’’ said Verma.
According to Greater Noida authority, there are a number of mining gangs active in the area. ‘‘March is the season when organized mining is stopped in Greater Noida. This is when illegal mining takes place on the Yamuna bed for its sand,’’ said an official. He added that all these groups owe allegiance to bigger gangs operating from Faridabad. ‘‘The Greater Noida route is used by gangs to transport sand to other parts of UP and NCR,’’ added the officer.