4 held for illegal mining in Indora

Despite intensified police action against illegal mining, the mining mafia remains active along the inter-state border areas of Indora subdivision under the Nurpur police district. In a significant crackdown last night, the Indora police seized a JCB machine and three tractor-trailers involved in illegal mining near the Beas in the Mand area.

Four drivers operating the seized machinery have been arrested. The accused have been identified as Jaswinder, Latif Hussain, Nasir and Sukhjeet Singh. Nurpur Superintendent of Police (SP) Ashok Ratan confirmed that a theft case has been registered under various sections of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Mines and Minerals Act.

Reports suggest the mining mafia has adopted a new strategy to avoid detection. They are allegedly financing local residents to purchase JCB machines, tippers and tractor-trailers. These residents unknowingly or willingly use their machinery for night time excavation of raw materials from riverbeds, which are then supplied to stone crusher units. The machinery operators are compensated with labour charges and equipment hiring fee.

Further investigations reveal that stone crusher units with legal mining leases often deploy their own machinery in designated areas but rely on hired equipment to extract minerals from non-lease zones illegally. These operations create large trenches in riverbeds, threatening river ecology and accelerating soil erosion along the banks.