Gondia LCB busts illegal sand smuggling, arrests 8, seizes goods worth Rs 50.72 lakh
Gondia's Local Crime Branch arrested 8 people and seized sand, tractors and a tipper worth Rs 50.72 lakh in three raids over three days.
The Local Crime Branch (LCB) of Gondia police has carried out a major operation against illegal sand excavation and smuggling in Gondia district. Between September 14 and 16, 2026, a Gondia police team set up checkpoints at different locations and caught 8 accused smuggling illegal sand. The operation led to the seizure of 7 brass of sand, 5 tractors and 1 tipper, together valued at Rs 50,72,000 (Rs 50.72 lakh). The action was carried out on the instructions of Superintendent of Police Gorakh Bhamre and under the guidance of LCB Police Inspector Revchand Singanjude.
The team that carried out the operation included police havildars Sanjay Chavan, Somendrasingh Turkar, Riyaz Sheikh, Dikshitkumar Damahe, Subodh Bisen, Indrajit Bisen, Tulshidas Lute and Durgesh Tiwari, along with police constables Chhagan Vitthale, Sunil Dahake, Nikhil Meshram, Rakesh Indurkar and Vilesh Thakre. The Gondia police administration warned that strict action against illegal activities would continue.
The first action took place in the Devanwada police station area on September 14, 2026. During a checkpoint on the Mahalgaon-Ratnara road, 2 tractors carrying sand stolen from the bed of the Wainganga river were caught. Along with the trolleys, 2 tractors and 2 brass of sand were seized, worth a total of Rs 15,12,000. Rajkumar Naitam Nagpure (30, resident of Mahalgaon) and Jitendra Tilakchand Thakre (44, resident of Deori) were arrested in the case.
The second action was carried out in the Ravanwadi police station area on September 15, 2026. A checkpoint was set up on the Tedhwa-Kati road, and 1 tractor and 1 tipper carrying illegal sand from the Tedhwa and Dangurli ghats were seized, worth a total of Rs 21,18,000. Khilendra Ramkishor Mhatre (29, resident of Mararatola), Pradeep Khushal Bhure (22, resident of Pandharabodi), Rahul Raju Uike (25, resident of Salaitola) and Yash Radheshyam Lilhare (resident of Gaddatoli, Gondia) were named as accused.
The third action took place in the Duggipar police station area on September 16, 2026. On the Salaitola-Chirchali road, 2 tractors carrying sand stolen from the Umarjhari nullah were caught. Along with the trolleys, 2 tractors and 2 brass of sand were seized, worth a total of Rs 12,12,000. Ashish Rajkumar Raut (28, resident of Davva) and Meghnath Sakharam Undirwade (53, resident of Davva, Sadak Arjuni tehsil) were caught in this case.
Across all three actions, the total seizure stands at 7 brass of sand, 5 tractors (with trolleys) and 1 tipper, together valued at Rs 50,72,000.
