The Joda police arrested and court-forwarded three persons on the charge of theft of manganese ore and seized the confiscated materials and vehicles on Friday.
After the Justice Shah Commission’s report, most of the mines in the Joda Mining Circle have been closed by the Government for violation of the MMDR Act, but the Government has no control over illegal sale of old mining stocks, which came to light on Friday after the new Joda PS IIC Pravat Ranjan Parida seized a truck carrying around five tonnes of manganese to West Bengal through Bileipada.
Sources revealed that there were regular allegations of theft of manganese from the BC Dev mines under the Joda Mining Circle in collusion with police officials. However, being tipped off by some source IIC Parida made a surprise checking of a 10-wheel truck No- WB-33B- 3487 at Govindapur Chowk near the BC Dev mines and seized around five tonnes of high grade manganese and arrested the driver, the truck owner's son and one Dhrutibandhu Patra, a local inhabitant.
Source said the accused were returning with the half-loaded truck to avoid attention, but thanks to prompt action of IIC Parida the mining theft continuing since long came to light. It is demanded by locals that there should be regular transfers of police officials and mining inspectors to curb the illegal mining activities in this mining circle.