SHIMLA: In a major operation launched against illegal mining at five locations including Bathu- Bathri- Santoshgarh, Khanpur - Nangal Khurd – Fatehpur, Ghaluwal, Basal and Jankaur in Una district on Sunday late night, the police teams have seized one proclaim excavator, one JCB, 4 tipper trucks and 9 tractors engaged in illegal mining and transportation while 6 persons have also been arrested and two FIRs under mines and minerals (Regulation and Development) Act, IPC and Environment Act have been registered against them.
Una Police had carried the operation in main areas prone to illegal mining and for this operation, 7 additional Police platoons (150 police personnel) were provided by the Director General of Police Sanjay Kundu. Police teams conducted this operation throughout the night.
During this operation, the officials of mining, revenue and IPH departments were also associated and services of surveyor were taken by the Police to assess the damage caused by illegal miners to river bed and public property at these areas.
Needless to say that the people engaged in illegal mining activity take advantage of jurisdictional boundary between Punjab and Himachal and carry out their operation during late night hours in inaccessible areas using their network of informers, who keep an eye on any movement done by the Police. Police teams conducted raids by keeping this entire operation secret and cordoned and plugged the entry/exit points of these hotspots as a result the above accused were caught red handed
DGP Sanjay Kundu said that State Police is committed to ensure “zero tolerance policy against the mining mafia” and stringent action is being taken against the persons involved in the illegal mining in the State.
