Joint teams find illegal mining at 5 places in the past one week; one excavator, 8 tractor-trolleys impounded; 2 FIRs lodged

KAPURTHALA, MARCH 12, 2018: Continuing drive against the illegal mining, the Inter-departmental joint teams constituted by Deputy Commissioner, Kapurthala have started showing results with five instances of Illegal mining having been spotted in the past week only.

Presiding over the weekly review meeting of the Inter-departmental joint teams, ADC (General), Kapurthala, Rahul Chaba informed that on Thursday, March 8th morning, the district-level joint team comprising of DC, SSP, ADC (General), SP (Investigation), SDO (Drainage) and mining officials carried surprise check of the area alongside River Beas during which two instances of Illegal mining came to notice.

In the first instance, the team found illegal mining having been done in the agricultural land owned by one Achhar Singh s/o Balbir Singh alias Beera in Village Khizarpur, against whom FIR No. 34 dated 08.03.2018 was lodged under sections 21 of Mining Act, 1957 and 379 of IPC at PS Talwandi Chaudhrian. In the second instance, one Amar Singh s/o Tehal Singh was caught loading sand in his tractor-trolley from the village pond in Village Faridpur, against whom FIR No. 36 dated 08.03.2018 was lodged under sections 21 of Mining Act, 1957 and 379 of IPC at PS Talwandi Chaudhrian.

On Friday, March 9th, two telephonic complaints were received about illegal mining after which joint teams were immediately sent. In the first complaint, the team found one Joginder Singh s/o Amar Singh of Village Khanowal digging earth in his agricultural land. The tractor was impounded by SHO, Police Station Kapurthala Sadar and Joginder Singh was asked to produce papers in support of his version that he was leveling his land. Suitable legal action shall be taken after due verification. In the second instance, one Sohan Singh s/o Dogar Singh was found digging earth from his agricultural land in Village Booh. One tractor with excavator attached and four tractor-trolleys, all of which were filled with earth, were impounded and sent to Police Station Fattu Dhinga. The owner of land has been asked to produce papers in support of his version that he was digging earth to level his land, after which due action will be taken.

On the night intervening between last Saturday and Sunday, one Gurcharan Singh was found digging earth from agricultural fields in Village Dhuddianwala. Two tractor-trolleys, with one trolley filled with earth, was impounded and sent to Police Chowki Bhulana.

Shri Mohammad Tayyab, DC, Kapurthala said that four inter-departmental joint teams, one joint team per sub-division, have been constituted in District Kapurthala as per directions of Chief Secretary, Punjab. He said each team has officials from Revenue, Police, Excise & Taxation, Drainage and Mining departments. In addition, there is a district-level team too. He appealed to the people to come forward with information if any instance of Illegal mining comes to their notice, and warned that anyone indulging in this illegal activity shall be dealt with sternly.