Illegal stone mine shut in Sahebganj, 1 held

Sahebganj

district mining officer Bibhuti Kumar and the local police sealed an

illegal

stone mine in the Kirokuria area of Taljhari block on Friday morning after conducting a raid. The officials also arrested the driver of an earthmover and seized the vehicle. Along with the earthmover, one tractor and a drilling machine were also seized from the area.

Speaking to TOI, Kumar said, “The raid started at about 8am but when the workers and the driver of the tractor saw us approaching, they fled. Police, however, managed to arrest the driver of the earthmover who identified himself as Naval Kumar Mandal.”

He added, “Naval informed us that the mine is run by two persons identified as Vyas Yadav and Sanjay Ray. An FIR has been lodged against them at the Taljhari police station and the cops will take further action in the case.”

Rajmahal SDPO Arvind Kumar Singh said, “We keep conducting such raids in coordination with the mining department. During interrogation, Naval gave us names of those who run the illegal mine and action will be taken against them soon. A case under the Mining Act has been filed and further investigation is on.”

Notably, the raid comes a day after tribal residents of Gadwa Hills area in the same block had blocked the main road leading to their hamlets in protest against the mining activities. The residents demanded sprinkling of water on the road which they said is often dusty and posing health hazards by causing diseases like tuberculosis.