In order to stop illegal mining activities across the State, State Director General of Police BS Sidhu has formed a police team headed by DIG Sanjay Gunjiyal at Police Head Quarter on Tuesday.
Sidhu said, “In view of increasing cases of illegal mining activities across the State and involvement of mafia in this business, we have decided to form a special police team at police HQ headed by a DIG.”According to him, in districts, police do arrest persons involved in carrying illegally quarried minerals, sand and grit from riverbeds areas across the State. Apart from this, police seize trucks, trolleys and tractors loaded with quarried riverbed materials.It has been observed that some times, police do not act against illegal mining operators after being pressured by local politicians. These operators indulge in such activities again and again. “In order to stop illegal mining activities across the state we have decided to formed a team comprised of DIG, SP, DSP, inspector, sub-inspector and constables at police head quarter,” he added.Sidhu said that the team members would conduct raids randomly in illegal mining prone areas in any part of the state and action will be taken under Mining Act against violators. The district police heads would continue conducting raids against illegal mining activities in their respective districts.The team will consist of one DIG, one SP, two DSPs, five inspectors, 10 sub-inspectors and 20 constables and department will soon release their names, he added.