Asper the strict directions and guidelines of the Government of Punjab and thedrive initiated by the newly formed Enforcement Directorate, Mining, againstillegal mining, Patiala Police has launched a major crackdown on sand smugglingin the district.
RNDhoke, Enforcement Director, Mining, Punjab, while divulging the details, saidthat such instances of illegal mining in the state will be dealt with an ironhand. “Recently, Patiala Police in coordination with the mining officialsconducted a raid at illegal mining site in village Chalaila, seized a PoclainJCB machine and registered a criminal case, vide FIR No 74 u/s 379 IPC and 4(1), 21 (1) of Mines and Minerals ( Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 dated15.4.2021 at Police Station Anaj Mandi, Patiala”, said Dhoke.
“Oneof the main accused nominated by Police, viz Om Parkash @ Omi S/o Gora Lal R/oPatiala, is still at large, we have arrested one of his close associates,namely Gursewak Singh S/o Roop Singh resident of Village Seona DistrictPatiala. Our investigating team is confident to nab everyone associated withthe illegal mining to take further necessary action against them as per law. Asper the directions given by the ED, mining, we have kept our officers alert andsuch illegal act will be tolerated in the district”, said Patiala SSP, VikramJeet Duggal.
Duringthe course of investigation, Anaj Mandi Police has also seized one JCB Machinebearing registration no PB 11 CB 6494, six tippers bearing registration numbersPB 11 CT 9841, PB 11 BY 3994, PB 11 AU 9863, PB 11CT 9841, PB 12N 8213, PB 11BY2294, one truck bearing registration no PB 11 BY 5194, two tractors and threetrolleys.
Hugeheaps of illegal sand have also been recovered by the police in Focal Pointarea, the quantity of which will be estimated by the investigating team throughthe mining department, said the SSP.
Ithas further come to light that the illegal mining was on in the land beingcultivated by Gurmail Singh S/o Niranjan Singh of Village Chalaila, who has also been nominated in the case by Police.
“Theaccused has been found to be smuggling sand in various other parts of thestate, as the ED, mining has cracked a major whip. Punjab Government has givenclear mandate to the Enforcement Directorate to check the incidence of illegalmining in the state and take action against the unscrupulous elements involvedin it. Our teams are working very hard on meet this objective”, said Dhoke.