Yunus Khan, a 2010 batch IAS officer stationed in Nalagarh of Solan district, has been attacked twice, before he was again targeted in the wee hours of Thursday because of his thorough operation against the illegally operating sand mafia in the State.
He had also written a communique to his senior officials apprehending more attacks as the mafia operates in connivance with few within the police department.
Khan aged 33 is a batch-mate of suspended Uttar Pradesh cadre IAS officer Durga Shakti Nagpal, who was suspended by Akhilesh Singh Government nearly two weeks ago for taking on sand mafias in Gautam Budh Nagar district.
This upright IAS officer has also launched an aggressive campaign against the illegal sand miners operating in the area under his jurisdiction, since his first posting as SDM Nalagarh from January 31. In his tenure as SDM, Khan has collected a fine to the tune of `1 crore from the illegal sand miners and have also arrested around two dozens illegal sand miners, confiscating their machinery in his sub-division. Khan has faced two attacks on his life until recently, when in a third attack a tractor laden with sand rammed into Khan’s official jeep and he was somehow saved.
“I have faced two attacks earlier, the first was in the last week of June and the second was in July. The third attack, though not a surprise for me took place in the wee hours on Thursday,” said Khan on phone from Nalagarh. He added that right now he is alright and carrying out the duties entrusted to him by the State Government.
Khan after facing two attacks also wrote a letter to senior police officers of his division, apprehending more such attacks on his life and he has even suspected connivance of a DSP rank officer with the Sand Mafias.
“We had received written complaint from SDM but the matter was resolved later,” said ADGP (Crime Investigation Department) SR Mardi.
Superintendent of Police Arul Kumar said that security of Khan has been beefed up and police team accompanies him during the raids. Sources said that senior police officers failed to gauge the intensity of the threat posed to the young and promising IAS officer who had single handedly launched an aggressive campaign against sand mafias.
Such is the clout of the sand mafia, that SDM was regularly intimated or threatened that he will be transferred from Nalagarh but despite that Khan carried out his fight undeterred by the threats.
Industries minister Mukesh Agnihotri said that Khan had come to meet him last month and apprised him about the situation in the area. “I have assured him all possible help including enhancing of security cover to flush out sand mafia and contain the flourishing trade of illegal sand mining in the area.”