Nagpur: Days after rural police arrested sand mafia kingpin, Kallu Khan, from Bhiwapur, a shocking video has surfaced in which he brazenly threatens employees of a legitimate sand ghat owner. Sources stated the video clip was barely a month old.While Nagpur rural police have been proactive — carrying out repeated raids and making key arrests, including that of Khan — the revenue department, which comes under Nagpur collector, Kumar Ashirwad, has come under sharp criticism for its lukewarm approach.In the video, Khan is heard boasting about his firepower while warning bona fide operators against resisting his sand extraction activity. The kingpin also reminded staff of a bona fide ghat owner about the murder of a ruling party neta in Chandrapur, who too had bagged an auctioned ghat.Kallu Khan, who faces multiple criminal cases in both Nagpur and Bhandara districts, was picked up by rural police during the continuing crackdown on mafia last week. “The revenue department is hand in glove with the sand mafia. They don’t step out at night when sand mafia trucks run amok,” said a sand ghat owner on condition of anonymity.Emergence of the video has sent fresh shock waves among legitimate sand ghat owners who have already paid govt-approved auction fees and hold valid licences.In the recording, Khan is seen addressing ghat employees in crude Hindi, declaring, “Video pyara hai ya aapki jaan? Gadi ke andar ek bhi wapas nahi jayega.” He further claimed to possess two weapons — one private and one licenced — boasting he will use the unlicensed one for violence and show the licenced firearm to authorities if needed. He also flaunted his four houses and asserted cops will never be able to catch him. The video, which has now gone viral among sand trade circles in Vidarbha, exposes the fear psychosis created by the sand mafia.Sources close to affected families revealed that Khan and his henchmen, along with musclemen, sharpshooters and goons, have been systematically targeting employees at auctioned sand ghats. They allegedly assault workers, issue death threats and force them to allow unchecked illegal extraction.“Hundreds of trucks belonging to the sand mafia reportedly operate in the cover of darkness, looting sand from legally allotted ghats and causing massive financial losses to genuine owners,” said another ghat owner.The mafia’s operations, as per the video, reportedly extend from Nagpur district up to Brahmapuri in Chandrapur, with Khan claiming he is the “mastermind” who uses multiple SIM cards that police cannot trace. He also brags that every major “kand” (crime) he commits remains in headlines for six months.Revenue officials often remain unavailable and fail to extend timely assistance to the police, said a police source. “Many times, police have to drop plans to raid the mafia as these officials are unavailable,” said a top police source.
