The nexus between police and mining mafia is resulting in illegal mining going on unimpeded in Haridwar district, in particular, and other parts of the State, in general. This became clear when a case against police officer was registered in Pathri police station, Haridwar on Friday, after his involvement in facilitating mining operators to extricate mining materials from the river beds in violation of laws was found.
The observers opine that despite police raiding river- bed areas off and on, unauthorized mining is thriving in various parts of the state thanks to the unholy nexus between a section of the law-enforcers and those engaged in quarrying mines, flouting laws. Recently, BJP and Congress leaders raised this issue and demanded the Government to check the menace by coming down heavily on the offenders.
However, the State Government had formed Illegal Mining Prevention Vigilance Unit (IMPVU) headed by DIG/IG Sanjay Gunjyal to check illegal mining activities in riverbed areas of the State. Gunjyal had conducted several raids in various parts of Haridwar, Dehradun and other parts of the State and action was accordingly taken against the offenders.
However, a case pinpointing nexus between police and the mining mafia coming to the surface has taken winds out of the Government and police claims that the mafia menace is almost exterminated with police remaining hyper-active. Additional SP Ajay Singh investigated a case on the alleged involvement of then Pherupur police station in-charge sub-inspector VD Joshi facilitating mining operators to illegally extricate mining materials from the riverbeds under his jurisdiction in Haridwar.
His complicity was proved in course of the probe. Following the direction of senior police officer, a case has been registered against Joshi in the Pathri police station, said station in-charge Amarjeet Singh on Friday. This case has been transferred to special investigation cell, he added. It should be mentioned here that in 2013, then Haridwar SSP Arun Mohan Joshi had formed a special team and directed it to conduct frequent raids to stop illegal mining activities in Pathri riverbed areas.
The team had found some policemen abetting illegal mining in the region. SSP Joshi had transferred CO Kankhal JR Joshi at district police headquarter. This aside, police station in-charge TS Rana and sub- inspector VD Joshi along with 12 policemen were suspended. He had set up an inquiry into such charges. ASP Ajay Singh found Joshi guilty and a case was registered against him in Pathri police station on Friday.