The National Chambal Sanctuary, a critical habitat for endangered aquatic species such as the Gharial and the Gangetic Dolphin, has become a flashpoint for conflict between law enforcement and the illegal sand mining mafia. The recent killing of a 33-year-old forest guard, Harkesh Gurjar, who was run over while attempting to intercept an illegal sand tractor, underscores the grave risks faced by frontline forest personnel. In a suo motu case titled 'In Re: Illegal Sand Mining in the National Chambal Sanctuary', a Supreme Court bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta has demanded a detailed affidavit on such recurring violence. The Court had previously advocated for the use of preventive detention laws against the sand mafia and stayed the Rajasthan government's attempt to de-notify sanctuary areas, signaling a zero-tolerance judicial approach toward ecological destruction for commercial gain.
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