Jaipur, Oct. 10 -- Rajasthan chief secretary V Srinivas has directed officials to ensure timely provision of weapons and vehicles to forest personnel deployed in vulnerable areas of the National Chambal Gharial Sanctuary and called for a joint action plan to curb illegal sand mining, amid a series of attacks on frontline personnel confronting mining operators. Chairing a state-level coordination and monitoring committee meeting convened on the directions of the Supreme Court, Srinivas stressed a zero-tolerance approach towards illegal mining, stronger field patrolling and inspections of vulnerable areas by senior officers. He also directed departments to coordinate their efforts and submit compliance reports on time "The chief secretary directed the departments concerned to prepare a joint action plan, strengthen field patrolling and ensure inspections of affected areas by senior officers. Describing the recent killing of a forest ranger as extremely unfortunate, he directed officials to ensure the timely provision of necessary weapons and vehicles to field personnel for their safety and submit compliance reports on the court's directions within the stipulated time," the official release stated. The directions follow the recent killing of a forest ranger in an incident linked to alleged illegal mining. 40-year-old forest ranger died after a dumper ran over him when he tried to stop suspected illegal soil mining in Pratapgarh district on September 21. On October 7, police constable Surendra Singh was injured after a speeding tractor-trolley allegedly involved in illegal sand mining ran over his leg in Sawai Madhopur's Chauth Ka Barwara area. Singh was trying to stop the vehicle after spotting it approaching an elderly couple walking along the roadside carrying fodder. He was referred to Jaipur for treatment, while the elderly woman also sustained injuries. The driver fled the spot. The incident is the latest in a series of alleged attacks on police and forest personnel involved in action against illegal mining in eastern Rajasthan. On September 21, forest ranger Pratap Singh Chundawat was allegedly hit and dragged by a dumper when he attempted to stop a vehicle involved in alleged illegal excavation in Pratapgarh. The incident was taken up by the Supreme Court during its suo motu proceedings concerning illegal sand mining in the National Chambal Gharial Wildlife Sanctuary. In another incident on September 26, a forest team was allegedly attacked with stones and gunfire after seizing a tractor-trolley and a compressor machine during action against illegal mining near Kondapura village in Bharatpur district. Earlier, forest personnel were allegedly attacked in Tonk in August, while a forest outpost in the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve was attacked in March, with an arrested person freed and a seized tractor-trolley taken away. The Supreme Court directed Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh to strengthen surveillance, establish checkposts, take action against organised mining networks and protect frontline forest personnel. It has also asked the states to consider preventive detention against alleged kingpins and habitual offenders involved in organised illegal sand mining. Against this backdrop, Srinivas emphasised the need to strengthen field-level security and improve coordination among departments to ensure effective enforcement....