Pahadi Ji Dasta gang shuts down Jharkhand's village, terrorizes locals over sand mafia control

On Tuesday, Umenda village in the Budhmu police station area was forced to shut down by the Pahadi Ji Dasta gang, a splinter group from the Tribal Security Police Committee (TSPC). The gang, consisting of four to five members, arrived in the village late on Monday night and confronted local shopkeepers. They engaged in physical altercations with the shopkeepers and threatened them with weapons, instructing them to close their shops on Tuesday. By the morning, all businesses in Umenda were closed, and public transportation ceased, resulting in a complete shutdown of the village.

Station House Officer (SHO) Ritesh Kumar, along with a police team, was deployed to Umenda after receiving information about the incident. The police attempted to convince the shopkeepers to reopen their businesses, but they remained hesitant, citing fear of retaliation from the gang. Even the local Indian Bank branch was shut down, along with other establishments. Despite continuous police presence in the area, the village remained shut throughout the day, with no signs of normalcy being restored.

The exact reason behind the gang’s decision to shut down Umenda is not yet clear. However, the village is located in a region known for sand extraction, and local criminal gangs have been known to control and extort money from businesses involved in the trade. The Pahadi Ji Dasta gang is believed to be asserting control over the area, possibly linked to sand-related extortion activities. Other criminal gangs operating in the region also engage in similar practices, often using threats and violence to enforce their dominance over businesses and residents.

In response to the shutdown, the local police have intensified their efforts to restore order. Police are actively patrolling the area, and a team has been assigned to investigate the incident further. Authorities have identified several individuals associated with the gang’s activities and are conducting raids to apprehend those involved. The police force has also stated that they are committed to ensuring that the local population can resume their daily activities without fear of criminal intimidation.

This incident is part of a larger pattern of criminal activity in the Budhmu region, where several gangs, including the Pahadi Ji Dasta, are involved in illegal operations. Sand smuggling and related extortion have become significant issues in the area, with multiple gangs competing for control over these activities. Local law enforcement continues to monitor and address these criminal operations, with the aim of reducing gang influence and ensuring the safety of residents.