KATHUA JANUARY 05: A Joint team of the Mining Department and Kathua Police, headed by District Mineral Officer, Rajinder Singh, today seized 3 heavy excavators and 14 Dumpers involved in illegal mining.

Acting on a series of complaints lodged by local people and on the directions of Deputy Commissioner, Kathua Rahul Pandey, the team launched a crackdown at Tarnah and Barma Mangloore and seized loaded dumpers and machinery.

The DMO informed that a total of 1400 MTs of raw material has been excavated and lifted from the locations by the violators. He informed that no vehicle can transport raw or finished mineral from Nallah, rivers, stone crushers and other mining places without valid documents. He said and for transporting such material from one place to another, approved e-challans are required.

All the 3 seized excavators and 14 Dumpers were handed over to incharge police post Chadwal Muzamal for further legal action as per the extant rules.

The overall operation was carried out under close supervision of SSP Kathua R.C. Kotwal. (Info)