Sand mafias axe youth to death for opposing illegal transportation from Ib River bed

Sundargarh: A youth was axed to death today by two sand mafias for opposing illegal transportation of the minor mineral from Ib River bed near Daijamahula village of Karamdihi panchayat under Sundargarh Sadar police limits in this district, following a verbal spat.

The deceased was identified as 33-year-old Sonu Negi from a nearby locality.

According to a police source, Sonu and one of his friends had gone to the river in the morning to take bath. They saw that sand was being loaded on two tractors at an illegal quarry for transportation.

Sonu opposed the illegal act and warned the vehicle drivers asking the latter not to do so. This triggered an altercation with the drivers, who later left the spot sans tractors and informed the owners of the vehicles about it. Irked by the incident, the owners named Durgamadhab Ekka and Trilochan Sa indulged in a brawl with Sonu. Things turned ugly when, in a fit of rage, the mafia duo attacked Sonu with an axe leading to his untimely death. The mafias fled from the spot soon after committing the crime.

The friend of Sonu informed the deceased’s family about the fatal mishap. Sonu’s family with the help of some locals rescued him from a pool of blood in critical condition and the youth was initially rushed to Sundargarh district headquarters hospital (DHH) for treatment.

Later, Sonu was shifted to Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VIMSAR) in Burla, where doctors declared him ‘brought dead’.

Acting on an FIR, Sadar police have registered a case in this connection and launched a probe.

Sonu had past enmity with Durgamadhab and Trilochan over the illegal quarrying of sand. Sonu earlier attacked Durgamadhab a few months ago, the senior police official stated.