Even as illegal extraction of sand remained a bane for border belt, especially in Ajnala and Ramdass, the consecutive governments have failed to curb the menace due to nexus between illegal sand miners, politicians and officials.

Illegal excavators have become so fearful that people were afraid of raising their voice against them.

SSP, Amritsar (Rural)

We have registration numbers of tippers and tractor- trailers seized from the spot and raids were on to nab owners and those who absconded from the spot.

Three days ago, the police unearthed illegal mining in Beas river. This is perhaps for the first time that mining was found in this area. The police arrested three persons Lakhwinder Singh of Dolenangal village, Vikramit Singh of Budha Theh and Jagjivan Singh of Bhol Bage village. Cops also seized two tippers and an earth mover (JCB) from their possession.

The role of officials of the Mining Department also came under scanner following busting of the mining racket in Kassowal village in Ramdas area recently.

The police had nabbed two persons, Ranjit Singh of Teja village in Gurdaspur and Daljit Singh of Bahadurgarh Jandiya village in Bathinda, from the spot and confiscated their machinery.

Following preliminary probe, the police have booked three more persons — Karnail Singh, Navraj Singh of Deol village and Sandeep Singh of Janduwala in Ferozepur. Though thorough investigations were under progress, the police sources who were part of the raiding team said many heads would roll in the further course of investigations.

An official on condition of anonymity said no mining official was present at the mining site. He said when the police officials led by Amritsar (Rural) SSP Dhruv Dahiya contacted mining officials of the area concerned, they did not respond.

As per details, contractors involved in the mining have informed the police that they had the contract for desilting. The police suspected that those involved in sand mining had forged papers. Those arrested could not produce documents regarding desilting of the river bed.

“The preliminary probe hinted at a well-oiled nexus behind the illegal mining in the river belt,” said sources.

When contacted, Amritsar (Rural) SSP refused to comment on the involvement of mining official. He said a through investigation was under way. “We have registeration numbers of tippers and tractor- trailers seized from the spot and raids were on to nab owners and those who absconded from the spot,” said the SSP and added that no stone would be left unturned and nobody would be spared.

The police had confiscated nine trucks, four tractor- trailers, one earth mover (JCB) and a pokline from the site.