DSP probing illegal mining mowed down in Haryana

A Haryana Police officer, Surendra Singh Bishnoi, who had gone to investigate a case of illegal stone-mining in Nuh, died after being allegedly run over by a dumper driver.

Hours after the incident, the car cleaner was arrested after a brief encounter with the Haryana Police. “It is a sad and serious incident. One accused has been arrested following an encounter. He has been shot in the leg. Teams are conducting raids to arrest other accused also”, Haryana DGP PK Agrawal said.

Nuh Police official informed the news agency ANI and said, “Tawadu (Mewat) DSP Surendra Singh Bishnoi, who had gone to investigate an instance of illegal mining in Nuh, died after being run over by a dumper driver. A search operation is underway to apprehend the accused. More details are awaited.”

Tauru DSP Surendra Singh

had signalled a dumper-truck to halt to check documents. But the driver sped on, running over him. The officer’s gunman and his driver jumped aside to safety, but the DSP was hit.

He was rushed to hospital where doctors declared him dead, police said. Singh, along with his team, had gone to conduct raids to stop illegal mining in Aravalli hills in Pachgaon area near Tauru when he spotted the truck at 11.50 am.

An officer said police teams are conducting raids to arrest the driver.

Haryana Police also tweeted about the same and wrote, “DSP Taoru Sh Surender Singh laid down his life today in the course of duty. #HaryanaPolice extends its deepest condolences to the bereaved family of the brave officer. No effort shall be spared in bringing the offenders to face justice.”

The police officials are present on the spot and are trying to ascertain the exact cause of the incident.

Further investigation is underway. Since 2015, about 50 complaints of illegal mining are registered every year in Nuh, officials said. Often, there are run-ins between police and members of the mining mafia.

DSP Singh was recruited as assistant sub inspector in Haryana Police in 1994 and was to retire in a few months. He lived with family in Kurukshetra and hailed from Sarangpur village in Hisar district.