Tribune News Service
Mohali, December 24
In a major crackdown, the Mohali police have arrested 16 persons for illegal mining and have seized arms and machinery used in the mining.
Those arrested are Rinku, a resident of Khojapur in UP, Bhupinder Singh, a resident of Kamali village in Fathegarh Sahib, Amarveer Singh, a resident of Morinda, Hukam Mandle, a resident of Khatra village in Bihar, Raman Kumar, a resident of Kotalpur in Pathankot, Sukhwinder Singh, a resident of Kheri Purkhali village in Ropar, Harwinder Singh, a resident of Bindrakh village in Ropar, Tejinder Singh, a resident of Sursingh village in Tarn Taran, Sandeep, a resident of Dumriabande village in UP, Kamal Babu, a resident of Simra village in UP, and Gurjant Singh, Gurnam Singh, Gurcharan Singh, Mohit Sharma, Parminder Singh and Mustak Mohamad, all residents of Mohali district.
The police seized a pistol, five loaded tippers, a poclain machine and Scorpio and Safari jeeps from their possession. The police said raids were conducted by a police team of Mullanpur (Kharar 2 subdivision) in three villages — Abhipur, Kubhaheri and Miyapur Changer — falling under the Majri police station in Mohali district.
SSP Satinder Singh said during preliminary investigations, they confessed that three stone crushers — Chardi Kala Crusher, Captain Crusher and Baba Sher Singh Crusher — were indulging in illegal mining.
He said the modus operandi of this group was that it used to deploy its associates at certain locations to keep a watch on the movement of the police and Mining Department officials.
The SSP said a heavy fine (nearly Rs3.5 lakh per tipper or poclain machine) would be imposed on the owners for the impounded vehicles. The SSP said five cases under Sections 4(1) and 21(1) of the Mines and Minerals (Regulation and Development Act, 1957) and 379 of the IPC had been registered at the Majri police station.
Meanwhile, the Mining Department has sealed 70 stone crushers and screening plants in the Mubarikpur area of Zirakpur in Mohali district.
Agitated over this, members of the Mubarikpur Stone Crushers Association (MSCA) alleged that the Mining Department was exerting pressure on them to pay "goonda tax" under the influence of the mining mafia. They said no notice had been served on them before sealing the stone crushers.
Amarjeet Bansal, president, MSCA, said even though they had proper documents of their units, mining officer Simarpreet Kaur Dhillon sealed their units. He said the officer did not have any written order. He said they would move court by Tuesday if their units were not unsealed.
Despite attempts, the mining officer could not be contacted.
However, mining inspector Narinder Kumar said the department had started sealing stone crushers and screening plants which did not have proper documentation. He said they had sealed 30 stone crushers at Handesra village in the Lalru area on Thursday.
from The Tribune https://ift.tt/3rqr7pZ
No comments:
Post a Comment