Nagpur: In a spine-chilling late-night crackdown that exposed the growing terror of the illegal excavation mafia in Nagpur district, a courageous Naib Tehsildar risked his life by clinging onto a speeding excavator for nearly three kilometres while the accused desperately tried to throw him off and escape.
The dramatic incident unfolded on Tuesday night in Bori Naik village under Kuhi Tehsil, where revenue officials and police launched a raid after receiving information about rampant illegal excavation activities. What followed looked no less than a scene from an action thriller, with Government officers staring death in the face while trying to stop the powerful excavation mafia.
Gold Rate
May 07- 2026 - Time 10.30Hrs
Naib Tehsildar Buddhabhushan Nikalje, along with Village Revenue Officer Mohan Pawar, Anand Maske, Revenue Assistant Nilesh Tirpude and personnel from Veltur Police Station, rushed to the spot after receiving a tip-off about illegal digging operations being carried out under the cover of darkness.
As the team attempted to corner the accused and seal the escape routes, the driver of an excavator bearing registration number MH40/CQ-2388 suddenly accelerated the heavy machine and attempted a daring escape.
Despite repeated warnings and signals from the officials to stop, the driver allegedly sped away recklessly. In a split-second decision that could have turned fatal, Naib Tehsildar Nikalje grabbed onto the moving excavator in a desperate attempt to stop the accused from fleeing.
For nearly three kilometres, the officer hung onto the giant machine as it thundered across rough and uneven roads in the darkness. According to officials, the excavator driver drove dangerously, swerving violently and even attempting to ram the machine into roadside trees in an effort to shake the officer off.
“I knew if I let go, the accused would escape,” Nikalje reportedly told police later.
The horrifying chase became even more dangerous when another accused, driving a tractor involved in the illegal excavation operation, allegedly attempted to mow down the officer. Nikalje narrowly escaped death by jumping aside at the last moment.
“The tractor came directly towards me. For a moment, I felt I would not survive,” the officer reportedly stated.
Despite suffering minor injuries and having his shirt torn during the struggle, the fearless officer refused to back down. He also managed to record a video of the incident, which has now been handed over to police as crucial evidence.
As the dramatic chase unfolded, police teams tightened the cordon around the area and blocked all possible escape routes. The excavator driver, identified as Mayur Thote, was finally overpowered and arrested on the spot. Two tractor owners allegedly linked to the illegal excavation racket were also taken into custody.
Police officials termed the incident a serious attack on Government machinery and said strict action would be taken against all those involved in the illegal excavation network.
“This was not just obstruction of Government duty, but a direct threat to the life of a Government officer. Nobody involved will be spared,” a police officer said.
The shocking incident has once again exposed the brazen confidence of the illegal excavation mafia operating across parts of Nagpur district, where revenue and police officials are increasingly coming under threat while trying to curb unlawful mining and excavation activities.
