The Uttar Pradesh government, late on Tuesday night, suspended Additional Superintendent of Police in Banda, Mahendra Pratap Chauhan, with immediate effect on charges of inefficiency in preventing illegal mining activities and instead abetting it under his jurisdiction.
Addl SP in PAC, Sitapur, Laxmi Niwas Mishra has been posted as the new Addl SP in Banda.
Earlier, the district magistrate of Banda was also transferred on similar charges.
The Government Order said, "On the basis of the review of works done by Mahendra Pratap Chauhan, he was found to be inefficient in tackling crimes and criminals, in his state, illegal mining and transportation mafia in particular. 'Maurang' extracted from Madhya Pradesh was being transported illegally through Uttar Pradesh and vehicles carrying it passed through Banda, a district under Chauhan's jurisdiction. The officer was involved in various meetings regarding the passage of these vehicles through Banda. Had he taken proper action against the illegal mining and transportation mafia, such serious facts would not have come to light. It reflects his carelessness and poor supervision during his work."
