BHOPAL | Nov 09, 2016: Up in arms against illegal sand mining from Ken river in Chattarpur, over 100 women were holding fast unto death at a small village bordering UP and MP till the police persuaded them to give up the protest on Tuesday.

Samiksha Yadav, sarpanch of Dadutaal, who was leading the demonstration said, "Mafia has been operating and transporting over 1000 truckloads of sand to Uttar Pradesh every day. They are using our farms to transport the sand, thus damaging our crops. Armed mafia men terrorise villagers. As large number of heavy vehicles ply in the small village, thick cloud of dust covers the area, making it difficult for us to breathe."

A large number of trucks and tractor-trollies were held up on either sides of the road as the women sat on dharna. After good monsoon this year, there has been plenty of sand on the banks of the river, on one side of which is Banda district of Uttar Pradesh where the mineral is being transported with the connivance of police, mafia and politicians, women on dharna told visiting SDO Lajja Shankar and SDM Hemkaran Dhurve on Tuesday.

The demonstration was held at Barikheda village bordering Banda and Chattarpur. Over 150 people sat on the road, blocking traffic. They said the administration must intervene to stop the menace of illegal mining. District collector Ramesh Bhandari said, "The administration will ensure that no illegal sand mining takes place in the region." Talking to TOI, he said, "There were allegations that mining was taking place from the farm of a particular villager. Even the miners who have mining licence objected to it. Strict action will be taken against those indulging in illegal mining."

(Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/)