The Giridih police on Saturday morning seized about 35 – 40 tonnes of illegally mined mica from two different places under Tisri Police station in the district. The police personnel have also arrested one person in this connection.
The district police had a tip off regarding rampant illegal mica mining across the forest areas of Tisri, Gawan, Deori and other adjacent areas of the district. They also had information regarding a huge collection of mica scraps at different locations under Tisri police station areas of the district.
Soon after getting information, a team of police personnel led by Sub Divisional Police Officer (SDPO), Mukesh Mahto, visited the suspected areas and confiscated about 35 – 40 tonnes of illegally mined mica from Gamhariatand and Bhandari road localities. Besides, Tisri, Inspector of Police, Parmeshwar Liyangi, and Officer In-Change, Pikku Prasad, were among other team members.
The arrested mica trader has been identified as one Mohan Barnwal, a resident of the same locality. He is said to be the owner of the seized mica scraps. Barnwal had also contested elections for the post of Zila Parishad member from his native areas.
“As per our information, Barnwal has an old track record of this illegal trade of mica scraps across the region. He often collected illegally mined mica from some of the prohibited forest areas and stocked it at his Gamhariatand and Bhandari road-based gowdowns,” Mahto said.
District mining and forest officials have also been involved for further investigation into the matter. An FIR has been lodged into the matter.