In a domino effect of the crackdown launched by the Special Task Force of the State Crime Branch against the illegal mining and drugs mafia, a notorious criminal Prakash Nayak alias Chhota of the district, surrendered before the court here on Tuesday.
Sources said the criminal was involved in several crimes, including illegal stone quarrying and brown sugar trading. Several cases are pending against Chhota at various police stations in Khordha and he was on the radar of the Special Task Force (STF) of State Crime Branch.
Notably, on Monday another criminal Nitu Mansingh, said to be a kingpin of illegal mining mafia was arrested by the STF on Monday.
The investigating agency has prepared a list of more than 20 mafia involved in illegal stone mining and launched a drive to put them behind bars.