Tractor rams into Naib Tehsildar's official vehicle while he was investigating illegal mining in Agra's Bah; driver absconding

A tractor-trolley driver rammed into the official vehicle of a Naib Tehsildar who had gone to investigate complaints of illegal mining in the Bah police station area of Agra, and then fled the scene. The incident occurred on Friday (13 November) at around 9 am on the Vikrampur road. The Naib Tehsildar stated that he had a narrow escape. An FIR has been registered at the Bah police station based on his complaint, and the police have launched a search for the accused.

How the incident occurred

Following complaints of illegal soil mining in the area, Bah SDM Vinod Chaudhary had sent Naib Tehsildar Sudhir Giri to the Vikrampur area for an investigation. According to Sudhir Giri, he was on his way for an inspection in his official vehicle. Near Khushilalpura village on the Vikrampur road, he saw a tractor-trolley coming from the opposite direction. He had his vehicle pulled over to the side and signaled the driver to stop.

According to the Naib Tehsildar, the driver did not stop. He attempted to drive the tractor-trolley over the official vehicle and hit the rear portion with great force. The vehicle was damaged in the collision, and the rear side window glass was shattered. Before the Naib Tehsildar and those accompanying him could recover, the driver sped away with the empty trolley. According to him, traces of soil were scattered in the trolley.

Immediately after the incident, the Naib Tehsildar reached the Bah police station. He filed a complaint, based on which an FIR was registered.

Administration and police's stance

The Bah SDM stated that the Naib Tehsildar was sent for investigation only after receiving complaints about mining. According to him, the person involved in mining tried to drive the tractor-trolley over the official vehicle. He said that legal action will be taken against the culprit.

Bah ACP Jitendra Kumar stated that an FIR has been registered in the matter. A team has been formed to arrest the tractor-trolley driver, and raids are being conducted to locate him. No information regarding any arrest has surfaced so far.

Revenue officials have been targeted in the past as well

Similar incidents have been recorded in the Bah area in the past involving revenue teams that went to stop illegal mining.

• 20 May 2016: Naib Tehsildar Gajendra Singh had seized three trolleys filled with sand and tractors in Vikrampur. The drivers of two of these fled. During the encirclement, an attempt was made to drive a tractor over the vehicle, and it was reported that the Naib Tehsildar was pushed and knocked down. The police took the tractor-trolleys into custody and conducted a medical examination of the Naib Tehsildar.
• 12 October 2023: Acting on information about illegal soil mining in Jaitpur, Tehsildar Pravesh Kumar and Naib Tehsildar Vipin Kumar Mishra had gone to take action at night. While attempting to stop a tractor, the driver drove the tractor over their vehicle. The Tehsildar was injured, and a home guard fell and sustained injuries. The people involved in the mining fled with five tractor-trolleys. Later, the Tehsildar and the police seized seven tractor-trolleys.

What next

Now, all eyes will be on the police action. Only after the driver is identified and arrested will it become clear whose tractor it was and how much connection he had with the mining. The administration has said that action will be taken against the guilty.