The Special Task force (STF) of the State Crime Branch, which is carrying out a drive against the mining mafia in Khordha district, on Monday arrested three persons for their involvement in illegal mining in the Nirakarpur police station area in the district.
The arrestees were identified as Shyamabandhu Dakua (52) and Manas Ranjan Pradhan (35) of Nayagarh and Mukunda Khandayatray (47) of Khordha.
The STF seized a stone laden truck, one tractor, one stabilizer, electric wire compressor hammer jack cum driller with rod, three plastic jerry-canes with diesel and one diesel compressor.
The accused were operating illegal mining quarry on Government land in Balrampur area under the Nirakarpur police station at the behest of local mining mafias without any work order.
The accused were forwarded to the Tangi Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) court on the day. Efforts are on to arrest other accused persons involved in the crime, the STF said.