Miners from Punjab ‘threaten’ Una police

Our Correspondent

UNA, JULY 10

A police team, led by Haroli DSP Dhan Raj Singh, was allegedly threatened by illegal miners from Punjab late last night on the Swan riverbed near Santoshgarh where the police had gone to check the illegal mining.

In a complaint to the Una SP, the DSP alleged that the miners were supported by a Punjab Police party, which was seen on the spot along with their official vehicle.

SP Devakar Sharma said he had received information about some illegal mining activity going on in the Swan river near Santoshgarh. He ordered the DSP Haroli to look into the matter. He said the DSP, along with police personnel reached the river side and saw a heavy duty excavator machine filling a tipper with sand, while five other tippers were awaiting their turn.

The SP said the sand filled tipper bearing registration number PB12T 7799 was impounded on the spot. Suddenly, about 20 to 25 men, armed with swords, axes, iron rods and batons surrounded them. He said they were threatened and asked to leave since the area fell in Punjab.

A Punjab Police vehicle and some uniformed police personnel were present to support illegal miners.

The SP said he had taken up the matter with the SSP, Ropar. Meanwhile, DSP, Headquarters, Ashok Verma confirmed that one tipper had been impounded.

While the government has leased pockets of the Swan for scientific mining, large-scale illegal mining of sand, gravel and stone continues unabated in the Swan river and its major tributaries with the help of heavy machinery. The SP said he had requested the Deputy Commissioner Una to direct Santoshgarh Revenue Department officials to demarcate the border in the Swan river between Himachal Pradesh and Punjab so that the Himachal Police do not stray into the Punjab part of the Swan to check illegal mining.

Matter taken up with SSP, Ropar: SP

• The SP said the sand filled tipper bearing registration number PB12T 7799 was impounded. 
• Suddenly, about 20 to 25 men, armed with swords, axes, iron rods and batons surrounded them. He said they were threatened and asked to leave since the area fell in Punjab.
• A Punjab Police vehicle and some uniformed police personnel were present. The SP said he had taken up the matter with the SSP, Ropar.