Amid regular complaints of illegal mining of laterite stone, Ghasipura Tehsildar raided a site at Madanpur in the wee hours of Friday and arrested two persons in his connection.
They were identified as Amarendra alias Kuni and Prajkash. Amarendra is son of a BJD worker, while Prakash is son of a retired primary teacher. Several drilling equipment and a tractor were seized from the duo.
Sources said illegal mining of laterite stone is at its peak across Keonjhar district, thanks to the indifference of the district administration and police to take prompt action against the mafias.
The mineral looters have been deforesting and extracting stones from the forest land in Madanpur, Khadikasulabahali, Nuagaon, Jenapada and Patilo mouzas under Ghasipura tehsil in broad daylight despite repeated complaints by the locals. Tonnes of stones are extracted through machineries and transported to various corners of the State by lorries and tractors on daily basis.
Notably, On March 8, a carbine gas tanker exploded inside an illegal mine on the forest land of Madanpur mouza and its operator Sheikh Alaam (29) sustained fatal injuries who was rushed to the SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack and later, to a private nursing home where his treatment is going on.
local inhabitants have demanded stringent action against the duo as the ill-fated labourer Sheikh was employed in the illegal work by Amarendra and Prakash.