Three cops suspended

Despite three police personnel being suspended on Wednesday for facilitating illegal mining in the Ganga, doubt persists whether the illegal activity carried out at the behest of the mining mafia would end in the district. Notably, amidst allegation that illegal mining was rampant in Pathri area of Haridwar district despite the ban in the Ganga river bed area from June 30 to September 30, the Senior Superintendent of Police   Krishna Kumar V K launched an unannounced inspection during the late night hours on Wednesday and subsequently, three police personnel, including an SO, were suspended.   The timing of the inspection was significant as the mining activity is known to be carried out around midnight at the behest of the mafia.

On Wednesday night, SSP went around Pathri area in civil dress and on his own vehicle.  He found many tractor trolleys, loaded with sand and stones, plying near Pherupur police station on Haridwar-Laksar Road without any checking.  He called police station in-charge Ashutosh Chauhan and asked him to explain. The explanation not being satisfactory, SSP suspended SO Deepak Kathait, constable Shiv Kumar and Ravi Pant with immediate effect.

Speaking to The Pioneer on Thursday, SSP Krishna Kumar V K said, “We received complaints that a section of the police personnel was helping   the mining mafia. During my inspection, I found some irregularities. Based on the initial findings, we have suspended three cops. CO Laksar would investigate the matter.”

Notably, FIRs have been lodged in connection with 17 cases of illegal mining so far this year and many vehicles have been seized too. A week ago, some people, acting for mining mafia, manhandled the Patwari of Jwalapur near Ibrahimpur river and tractor trolleys loaded with the mined materials were freed from the police.  

Observers say that the district revenue department has been incurring huge loss due to the nexus between the mafia and a section of the police. SSP revealed that the people who are acting under the mafia are openly giving the cops currency notes of Rs 500 so that they allow them to operate freely. “I myself experienced the same when I was on the inspection. Such a note was given to me as my gunner stopped a dumper as it tried to overtake my vehicle. The dumper was seized,” said SSP.