RAJKOT: Bauxite theft estimated to be worth Rs 4.50 crore was detected from the outskirts of Kenedy village in Kalyanpur taluka of Devbhoomi Dwarka district on Wednesday. A local transporter, was booked for his alleged involvement in the illegal activity, said police.
“Jetha Varu of Halmatiya village, was booked for his alleged involvement in the mineral theft. The state mines and mineral department had received a tip-off that the illegal excavation of bauxite was rampant in Kenedy village. The department officials raided the spot on the outskirts of the village and detected the bauxite theft,” said F B Gagania, sub-inspector with Kalyanpur police station.
“Varu and his associates had allegedly illegally excavated 35,313 metric tonne bauxite from the government land in the past one and a half years. Apart from Varu, more people are likely to be booked in the racket as their names may crop up during the investigation,” added Gagania.
Police said that the officials of the mines and mineral department measured the earth excavated with GPS-based instruments and accessed the theft to be over 35 metric tonne.