Machinery used in illegal mining seized, 9 arrested

The Nurpur police arrested nine persons during a raid in the Chakki river last night and seized two JCB machines, besides seven tippers being used in illegal mining in the area.

Those arrested have been identified as Pankaj Singh, Sheikh Ali, Pradeep Singh, Tarsem Singh, Rohit Sharma, Manpreet, Kewal Singh, Suraj and Sadiq Ali.

Nurpur Superintendent of Police Ashok Ratan said a theft case under Section 303(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Section 21(1) of the Mines and Minerals Act had been registered against the accused and further investigation was under way.

He said the Nurpur district police had, so far, registered 11 FIRs against offenders indulging in illegal mining activities this year and seized 55 vehicles, including machinery, used in extracting minerals from rivulets.

“Besides, the police have issued 611 challans for illegal mining and realised a fine to the tune of Rs 71.73 lakh,” the SP said.

Enquiries reveal that mining mafia has adopted a new modus operandi. In order to avoid direct police action, stone-crusher owners hire private JCBs, Poclain machines, tractor-trailers and tippers to extract minerals from the riverbed and transport the same to stone crushers set up in the Nurpur area and neighbouring Punjab.

It is learnt that while the stone-crusher owners use their own machinery in extracting minerals from the leased areas, they allegedly hire machinery for illegal mining in the non-leased areas.

Rs 71.73 lAKH REALISED AS FINE

We have registered 11 FIRs, issued 611 challans for illegal mining and realised a fine to the tune of ~71.73 lakh this year so far. — Ashok Ratan, Nurpur SP