IAS officer suspended for cracking down on mafia

 A woman IAS officer, who had cracked down on illegal mining in Uttar Pradesh’s Gautam Buddh Nagar (Greater Noida) district, has been suspended by the state government.

Sub-divisional magistrate of GB Nagar district Durga Nagpal, who had sent the sand mafia in the district scurrying for cover and had registered as many as 26 FIRs within a period of one week and arrested 15 people, was suspended late on Saturday night for reportedly intervening in a religious matter despite there being a court order to the contrary.

Durga had also seized 24 dumpers used for transporting illegally mined sand from Yamuna and Hindon rivers. She had set up special teams to carry out checks and conduct raids on the mining mafia.  Sources here said that the fearless official had realised Rs 24 lakh in fine from the mining mafia elements.

According to sources some ruling Samajwadi Party  leaders, who had mining interests, had turned against Durga and had complained to the government against her and demanded her removal from there. Sources said that SP leader Narendra Bhati had demanded removal of the woman official.

Official sources said that Durga had been held responsible for demolishing the wall of a religious place though there was a court order prohibiting the same.