Budhmu (Ranchi): Ranchi News: Late on Tuesday night, criminals set fire to six vehicles that had come to extract illegal sand at the remote Chhapar sand ghat in Budhmu, Ranchi. Four trucks, a JCB machine, and a tractor were burned. This incident in the border area of Ranchi, Ramgarh, and Hazaribagh districts created panic among the smugglers involved in sand smuggling and the police department.
According to the police, six criminals arrived at the scene on bikes at midnight on Tuesday. All the criminals were armed. At that time, dozens of drivers were engaged in illegal sand extraction. As soon as the criminals arrived, everyone fled from the scene.
The criminals also threatened the laborers, drivers, and villagers. After this, the criminals set the vehicles on fire. They warned the people that sand should not be extracted without their consent. If this happens, the consequences will not be good.
IG and Rural SP Reached the Spot
After receiving information about the incident, IG Akhilesh Jha and Rural SP Sumit Kumar Agarwal went to Chhapar and inspected the site. Seeing the stockpile of sand, the IG reprimanded the local policemen and gave directions for further action.
Taking immediate action, the SSP suspended Budhmu SHO Ramji Kumar, who was on leave, and SI Santosh Kumar, who was in charge of the police station, with immediate effect. SI Ritesh Kumar Mahato, posted at Nagdi police station, has been appointed as the new SHO of Budhmu. The new SHO has taken charge.
The Battle for Supremacy at Chhapar Sand Ghat
The incident occurred due to a battle for supremacy. For many years, there has been a competition between extremists and criminals to establish dominance over the Chhapar sand ghat in the Budhmu police station area. As a result, clashes between extremists and criminals occur almost daily in Budhmu.
Every day, the illegal sand business operates from Chhapar Ghat under the guise of extremists, criminals, police, and white-collar individuals. Extremist organizations like TSPC, JJMP, the criminal gang Aman Sahu, the Bhola Pandey gang, Vikesh Tiwari, and Alok’s gang are active in the illegal sand business.
Incident Spot is 28km Away from Budhmu Police Station
Chhapar sand ghat is on the Jharkhand Damodar river. It is located 28 km away from Budhmu police station in a remote area of Ranchi, Hazaribagh, and Ramgarh districts. There has never been a regular tender for this sand ghat, but sand has been extracted from here for the last ten years.
Two Groups Have Claimed Responsibility
Two factions that broke away from the TSPC, Alok gang, and Vikesh Tiwari gang, have claimed responsibility for the incident. According to the police, the Alok gang carried out the arson.
The police are also investigating in this direction. They say that Alok and other criminals used to work for TSPC earlier. Later, they left the organization and formed their own gang. Incidents are continuously occurring regarding the battle for supremacy at Chhapar sand ghat.
The criminals had burned two tractors at night on July 10. A Hiva truck was set on fire in September and four bikes in December 2023. On July 21, there was a fierce fight between Alok gang and TSPC members at the same sand ghat, in which seven people’s hands and legs were broken.
