Man who complained against mining mafia shot dead

A man, who had taken on mining mafia here, was today gunned down by unidentified assailants in the district where the issue of illegal sand mining is in focus after a woman IAS officer, who had clamped down against it, was suspended recently.

Villagers claim Pale Ram Chauhan was fighting against illegal mining in Raipur village, and had given complaints to district authorities.

Chauhan died on the spot after he was attacked, police said, adding that the body has been sent for post-mortem.

A police officer said investigation into the murder has been started and Chauhan's family members have given names of some suspects, who are being interrogated.

IAS officer Durga Shakti Nagpal, who had initiated action against the sand mafia when she was the SDM of Gautam Budh Nagar district, was suspended ostensibly for ordering demolition of wall of a mosque without following legal process.