Crackdown on mining mafia: Police seize one JCB, three tractor-trailers

Notwithstanding a blanket ban imposed by the state government from July 1 to September 15 on mining activities across Himachal Pradesh, the mining mafia is active in extracting minerals from riverbeds with mechanical machinery in this interstate border police district.

Acting against offenders, the Damtal police under the Nurpur police district intercepted a JCB machine and three tractor-trailers while indulging in illegal mining in a local rivulet at Bhadroya last evening. The police seized machinery and also registered an FIR against the accused.

A theft case under Sections 303(2) and 3(5) under the BNS and Section 21(1) of the Mines and Mineral Act has been registered against four accused identified as Balram Singh (JCB operator), a resident of Bhadroya village, Sunil Kumar, a resident of Pathankot, Sourabh Chowdhary, a resident of Kandwal, and Murad Ali, a resident of Lodwan (All tractor drivers). The accused were illegally extracting raw material for a stone crusher from the rivulet.

Nurpur Superintendent of Police (SP) Ashok Ratan said all four accused were arrested by the Damtal police. He said further investigation had been initiated into the matter. He said the district police had registered 14 FIRs related to illegal mining and seized 32 transport vehicles till August 8 this year. “Apart from this, 469 challans have been issued and a penalty of Rs 38.92 lakh recovered from violators in the same period. The crackdown to check illegal mining in the district will continue,” he asserted.