Police in Madhya Pradesh’s Alirajpur district have arrested a man after three children drowned in a rain-filled pit allegedly dug for illegal sand mining on government land, exposing the danger posed by abandoned and unsecured excavation sites.
The accused, identified as Pintu Inder Singh Jamra, was arrested on Monday and booked under Section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for culpable homicide not amounting to murder, according to police. The case follows the deaths of the three children in the water-filled pit.
Preliminary investigation indicated that the pit had been dug around three years ago and was subsequently left uncovered and without barricades. Rainwater accumulated in the excavation, creating a deep water-filled hazard that remained accessible to local residents, including children.
Police said their initial findings pointed to negligence by Jamra, who was expected to cover the pit or install barricades to prevent people from entering. The mining department will be consulted as investigators examine the circumstances of the excavation and the allegation that the pit was created for illegal sand mining.
The incident has also brought attention to the safety obligations surrounding mining sites after excavation work ends. An abandoned pit on government land can become a public hazard when it is not filled, fenced or otherwise secured, particularly during the monsoon when water can conceal its depth and edges. The police investigation will determine the extent of responsibility for the deaths and establish the full circumstances surrounding the excavation.
The children’s families and local residents protested after the deaths, blocking a road and demanding strict action against those responsible as well as officials concerned. The protests reflected anger over both the alleged mining activity and the failure to secure the site over a period of several years.
Heated arguments broke out between family members and officers during the protest. A heavy police force was deployed to control the situation and maintain order in the area.
The case also raises questions about how alleged illegal excavation on government land continued to remain unresolved and whether the site was inspected by the relevant authorities after the pit was created. Police said further investigation was under way to establish the complete circumstances and determine responsibility for the deaths.
The mining department’s assessment is expected to help investigators verify the circumstances surrounding the excavation and the alleged illegal sand mining. Further action will depend on the findings of the police investigation and the determination of responsibility by the authorities.
