Mining a flourishing illegal business in J&K
STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Since January this year, a total of 71 vehicles and machines involved in mining have been seized by Kathua police. On a surprise check, in continuation to its tough action against illegal mining within the district, Kathua Police on Saturday under the supervision of SSP Kathua RC Kotwal seized 6 vehicles indulged in illegal transportation of construction material in the jurisdiction of Police Station Kathua.
As per the details, police team headed by Inspector O P Chib SHO Kathua under the supervision of DySP Headquarters Kathua Shammi Kumar seized 6 vehicles– Tractor Swaraj (JK08D-5698) being driven by one Raj Kumar, son of Krishan Chand, resident of Changran; Tractor Swaraj (JK08H-6872) driven by Balvinder Kumar, son of Krishan Chand, resident of Khokhayal; Tractor John Deer (Jk08L-9004) driven by Suresh Kumar, son of Nanak Chand, resident of Kuke Chak; Tractor Swaraj (JK08J-0724) driven by Vinay Kumar, son of Ram Dass, resident of Ward No. 04 Kathua; Tractor Swaraj (JK08C-2491) driven by Rohit Kumar, son of Romesh Chander, resident of Kathua and Tractor Sonalika (JK08H-3487) driven by Mohd Ali, son of Alam Din, resident of Gori Chak Tehsil & District Kathua from Old Bus Stand Near W.No. 10 NHW Rajbagh, Kathua which were indulged in illegal extraction/transporting of construction material from the area.
All the vehicles were seized and immediately handed over to the officials of Geological and Mining department Kathua for further legal proceedings.
As per data available with the STATE TIMES, during last 4 months more than 30 vehicles and mining machines have been seized by Kathua police while from January 22 to July 22, a total of 71 vehicles and machines have been seized by Kathua police.
There is no check from the department which leads to total chaos and theft of building material in J&K. A senior BJP leader and former MLC Vikram Randhawa, in a press conference, had exposed the nexus of mining mafia in J&K. However, after an action against him from BJP headquarters, Randhawa, President of Jammu Crusher Owners Association, stopped exposing the mining mafia.
A senior police officer said, “Why not legal action be taken against those officials of mining department who are deployed to check the transportation of mining material?. ” Huge quantity of mining material is being sold at skyrocketing prices without any check from the administration, the officer added.