Ahmedabad: A dumper suspected to be ferrying illegally mined sand fled a check post, got rid of its load on the road, and attempted to ram a govt vehicle during a chase on Monday. On Tuesday, a 24-year-old mines supervisor posted with the geology and mining department filed a complaint in the matter with the Pethapur police. Navya Sudish, the supervisor, stated in her FIR that she was on duty at the Piplaj check post with two security guards when the truck arrived around 3.30pm. According to the complaint, a white dumper without a number plate and carrying sand was signalled to stop. However, the driver sped past the check post. Sudish informed the royalty inspector and began chasing the dumper with her team. Near the K-7 Circle, the driver allegedly raised the dumper’s hydraulic system and let loose around 60 metric tonnes of sand onto the road before fleeing towards Randheja. A second govt vehicle that attempted to intercept the dumper near Randheja was allegedly targeted by the driver, who tried to ram it and then drove towards Kolavada at high speed. The FIR also names Prakash Vanzara, who was allegedly travelling in a car without a number plate and obstructed the govt vehicle. Later, a man identified as Nagji Vanzara arrived at the police station and allegedly claimed ownership of the dumper and admitted involvement in illegal sand transportation. He allegedly urged officials not to file a complaint. Officials calculated a total penalty of Rs 4.3 lakh under the Gujarat Minerals (Prevention of Illegal Mining, Storage and Transportation) Rules, 2017, and the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957. Police registered offences related to illegal mining, obstructing a public servant from performing their duty, and attempt to endanger lives.
