The Special Task Force (STF) on Sunday arrested the kingpin of an illegal mining racket operating in the Sadar area in the district.
The arrestee Sanjay Paikray is a resident of Kumarbasta village under the Khordha Sadar police station and was operating an illegal mining quarry in Government land in Tapang area, the STF said.
As per the preliminary investigation Paikray was the kingpin of one of the gangs operating in the area, all having the same modus operandi.
They used to blast out boulders in rocky hills and hillocks in the area without any authority or paying any royalty to the Government and thereby causing serious financial loss to the State exchequer.
The operatives of the racket used to procure illegal arms and ammunition and provide it to their gang members to terrorise local people, Government officials and rival gangs, the police said.
The illegal mining gangs also acquired explosive substances for blasting in the above areas. STF has seized 10 kg ammonia nitrate powder, gelatin sticks, wire, stabilizer of explosive chemicals from the quarry run illegally by Paikray, the STF said.
Earlier on Saturday, one of Paikray’s associates identified as Dushasan Behera alias Sana was apprehended by STF while preparing to commit dacoity and forwarded to the court along with seized firearms.
The STF has registered a case (7/19) under Sections 379/ 411/ 420/ 467/468/471/120(B)/34 IPC r/w 25/27 Arms Act r/w 3/4/5 Explosive Substance Act and Sec 12 of Odisha Mineral Prevention of theft, smuggling and others (Unlawful Activities Act), 1988 against the accused and 20 others, who are running similar rackets and launched a probe.