Four personnel, including a mining department inspector, were injured when an enforcement team was allegedly attacked by illegal sand mining operators and local residents near Maheshpur village in Bihar’s Nawada district on Tuesday, prompting the state mines and geology minister to order strict legal action.
The team was returning after conducting a raid at Karanpur Ghat, where it had seized tractors carrying sand, when a group intercepted its members near Maheshpur in Govindpur block, according to Nawada district mining officer Pratyay Aman. The attackers allegedly used sticks and clubs during the assault.
Mining inspector Aman Kumar suffered a fractured arm in the incident. Two home guard personnel were also among those injured, while the fourth injured member was part of the enforcement team. All the injured personnel were taken for medical treatment, the report said.
The team seized one tractor during the operation, while the attackers fled with another vehicle. A video purportedly showing the assault circulated on social media. The report did not independently establish the authenticity of the video.
Mines and geology minister Pramod Kumar sought details from district officials and directed the administration to initiate stringent legal action against those involved. He said attacks on government personnel carrying out official duties would not be tolerated and that officials must be provided a fear-free environment to perform their responsibilities.
The incident has brought renewed attention to the enforcement risks surrounding illegal sand mining in Bihar. Sand is a critical construction input, and unauthorised extraction affects mineral-resource management and government revenue while creating operational challenges for departments conducting raids and seizures. In this case, the confrontation occurred after an enforcement action at a sand ghat, linking the alleged attack directly to the seizure of vehicles involved in the operation.
Kumar said the Nawada incident was the second such occurrence in the district and expressed concern over repeated attacks on departmental teams. He said the government remained committed to curbing illegal mining, protecting mineral resources and safeguarding revenue.
Raids were underway to locate the accused, but no arrests had been reported by Tuesday evening. Further investigation and the administration’s legal action will determine the next steps in the case.
