Paonta Sahib mining industry seeks action against defamatory social media posts

The mining industry in Paonta Sahib is facing a growing challenge as an unidentified individual uses social media to tarnish the reputations of mining operators and officials. In recent weeks, several misleading videos and posts about the region’s legal mining operations have gone viral, creating unrest among business owners and workers.

In response, a large group of mining operators met with the Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) and Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) in Paonta Sahib today, demanding swift action against the person behind the defamatory posts. They said failure to act could lead to large-scale protests, including road blockades using tractors.

The controversy began when the anonymous user posted videos and comments on social media, accusing mining officials of extorting money from operators — a claim the mining department has vehemently denied. On January 2, the mining officer concerned filed a police complaint, which led to the removal of the videos. However, the individual resurfaced with a new account, posting edited videos allegedly showing illegal mining activities and falsely linking them to Sirmaur district.

The latest post, on January 20, included further unfounded allegations against the local mining industry, sparking significant outrage among stakeholders. In a written complaint, mining operators stressed these misleading posts are damaging the reputation of legal businesses and undermining their livelihoods.

Local stone crusher operators have strongly defended their operations, asserting all mining activities in Paonta Sahib comply with legal and governmental regulations. They pointed to their substantial contributions to state revenue through advance royalty payments, which are regularly updated based on the material processed. Taxes, including 18 per cent GST, Panchayat Tax and contributions to the District Mineral Foundation Trust (DMFT), are also paid. Furthermore, mining businesses support local administrative and community development through CSR initiatives and technological oversight, such as real-time monitoring of material transportation via platforms such as X Forum, ensures transparency.

The mining community has accused the anonymous individual of using social media to spread false information and has called on police to identify and take legal action against them. They also urged authorities to publicly disclose the person’s identity to prevent similar incidents.