Tribune News Service
Ludhiana, May 6

The Ludhiana police and the district Mining Department conducted raids against illegal mining activities in the district and registered three cases. The police also recovered tractor-trailers.

The first case was registered at the Salem Tabri police station on the recommendation of district mining officer Rakesh Kumar.

Kumar said a tip-off was received that some persons were illegally mining sand from the Sutlej riverbed at Talwandi village. Accordingly, the Mining Department team conducted a raid. When the team reached the spot, the accused fled the spot. However, their tractor-trailers were impounded from near the Sutlej.

He said in further probe, the accused would be identified and booked in the case.

Another case of illegal mining was registered by the Ladhowal police which arrested Gurpal Singh of Nurpur Bet. ASI Sandeep Kumar said the police were conducting routine patrolling from Nurpur Bet to Rajapur village along the Sutlej. A tractor-trailer loaded with sand was stopped for checking and when the driver was told to produce documents regarding permission of sand mining, he failed to do so.

The driver was arrested and his vehicle was

also impounded.

The ASI said questioning of the accused was on to know if he resorted to illegal mining in the past or not.

The Koom Kalan police also booked three persons on the charges of illegal mining. They have been identified as Talwinder Singh, Gurjant Singh of Dholanwal village and Kaka of Mangli village.

ASI Harmesh Lal said a tip-off was received that the trio were into the illegal trade of mining and they had stolen sand from the Sutlej riverbed and were on the way to sell the same.

The ASI said accordingly, a naka was laid at a strategic place where a tractor-trailer loaded with sand was asked to stop for checking. Though the accused stopped the tractor-trailer, they managed to give the slip to the police. The vehicle, along with the sand, was seized by the police. Raids were being conducted to nab them.

A case under the Mining Act has been registered against the accused.