2 gangs involved in illegal mining busted

Our Correspondent 
Tarn Taran, September 16

The district police busted two gangs, found involved in illegal mining, from the riverbed areas today. Eight sand-filled tractor-trolleys and a JCB machine were also seized.

Jagjit Singh Walia, SP, (Investigation) and Kanwalpreet Singh, DSP, Patti, in a joint press conference, said six members of a gang were nabbed from Booh village, 30 km from here, while three other members of the second gang were arrested from Kot Budha village.

The police officers said the six-members of the gang have been identified as Bikramjit Singh Vicki, Ajay Kumar Ajay, Akhashdeep, Ajay Singh, Gurwinder Singh and Mangal Singh all of Killi Bodlan (Ferozpur). Their associate identified as Harjit Singh of the same village managed to escape from the spot. The police seized six tractor-trolleys from the accused.

The officers revealed that fake receipts too were recovered from the possession of the accused. The accused have been booked under Sections 379, 420, 467, 468, 471 of the IPC and Mining Act by Harike police station.

The members of the second gang busted from Kot Budha area have been identified as Bhupinder Singh Bhinda of Bhaowal, Harpal Singh and Jarmanjit Singh both of Dubli. Two sand-filled tractor-trolleys were seized from the accused, said the police officers.

The officers said a total number of 11 cases of illegal mining have been registered during the this year while the 37 accused have been arrested. As many as 23 tractor-trolleys, three JCB machines, five tippers and a water tank has been seized from the gang members.