Nurpur police impound 7 vehicles in anti-illegal mining drive

Intensifying its crackdown on illegal mining and unauthorised transportation of minerals, the Nurpur district police have seized and impounded seven heavy vehicles over the past two days.

Police teams intercepted three multi-axle trucks at Kandwal under Nurpur police station for allegedly transporting illegally extracted minerals.

In a separate operation, Damtal police impounded two JCB machines and two multi-axle trucks near Mazra. Legal action has been initiated against the offenders under provisions of the mining laws.

Confirming the action, Nurpur SP Kulbhushan Verma said the cases pertaining to the seized vehicles have been forwarded to the competent court for further proceedings under relevant sections of the mining and Motor Vehicles Acts.

He said the district police had adopted a zero-tolerance policy against illegal mining and that regular patrolling and surprise inspections would be intensified.

Earlier, on April 27, the police had launched a night-long crackdown and confiscated 19 heavy vehicles, including 17 multi-axle trucks, for similar violations.

Local tractor owners, who had earlier protested against heavy police challans, have welcomed the action against heavy machinery allegedly involved in illegal mining in rivers such as the Beas and Chakki.