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Nuh police to use drones to curb mining and cow smuggling

According to police officers familiar with the matter, at least 20 raids were conducted on Tuesday at the homes of suspected cow smugglers, but they were on the run and could not be caught

Updated on: Apr 4, 2023, 23:59:00 IST
By , Gurugram
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Nuh police are using drones to track down suspects involved in cow smuggling and illegal mining in the district and map the areas where raids will occur. According to the police, three cow protection force units have also been formed.

Nuh police said that they previously borrowed drones from criminal investigation department teams but that they now own one for  ₹1.25 lakh through corporate social responsibility funds and use it every day. (HT Photo)
Nuh police said that they previously borrowed drones from criminal investigation department teams but that they now own one for ₹1.25 lakh through corporate social responsibility funds and use it every day. (HT Photo)

According to police officers familiar with the matter, at least 20 raids were conducted on Tuesday at the homes of suspected cow smugglers, but they were on the run and could not be caught.

According to Nuh Superintendent of Police Varun Singla, the list of suspects has been distributed to all police stations and crime units. “A survey was conducted in the district’s villages of Multhan, Ghaghas, Kansali, Bhudbas, and Nangal Mubarikpur by the deputy superintendent of police of Ferozepur Jhirka, along with the police team, using a drone camera. Even though the suspects were not found in their hideouts or houses, the police presence in the area will put them under pressure,” he said.

According to police, based on data collected over the last seven years, they have identified 98 villages, 40 of which are close to the Aravallis, and residents have been booked for illegal mining, cow smuggling, and cow slaughter.

According to Singla, the goal is to reduce illegal activities in the district, and they have enlisted the help of village sarpanches and senior villagers to raise awareness. “We will conduct surprise raids, and anyone found involved will face strict punishment and be socially boycotted from the village,” he said.

Last year, 30 cases of illegal mining were registered, and seven cases have been recorded this year since January 1. Similarly, 197 cow smuggling cases were reported in 2022, with 31 so far, according to police.

Singla said that they previously borrowed drones from criminal investigation department teams but that they now own one for 1.25 lakh through corporate social responsibility funds and use it every day. “Regular monitoring has helped to stop illegal activities in the area, and there has been little movement in the 40 villages for the last three days,” he said.

According to Nuh police, at least 90 villages held panchayats (village meetings). They passed resolutions “pledging” to boycott, socially and otherwise, all those who are allegedly involved in these illegal activities.

The panchayats have warned villagers that anyone caught smuggling or slaughtering cows will face a 21,000 fine. The police have enlisted the help of local leaders, teachers, and maulvis from these villages and blocks to act as their eyes and ears.

According to police, 29 villages’ quarries are being investigated for illegal mining, and random drone surveillance will be conducted in the district regularly. They are also monitoring 95 operational crusher units and 41 others that have been closed.

  • Leena Dhankhar
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Leena Dhankhar

    Leena Dhankhar is Senior Editor and Bureau Chief, Gurugram, at Hindustan Times, where she has spent over 17 years chronicling the transformation of one of India's fastest-growing urban regions. From starting her career as a crime reporter to leading the Gurugram bureau, her journalism has been defined by investigative reporting, in-depth storytelling and an unwavering focus on public interest. Over nearly two decades, she has reported extensively across crime, politics, civic governance, elections, real estate, environment, courts, sports, education and entertainment, covering Gurugram, Faridabad, Nuh and Palwal. Her reporting has exposed several major scams and systemic failures, including insurance frauds, waste management irregularities, illegal arms manufacturing units in Nuh, illegal mining in the Aravallis, organised crime networks and governance lapses affecting millions of residents. Known for her investigative work and exclusive stories, Leena has reported on high-impact national issues, including the Nicaragua charter flight carrying Indian migrants that was turned back amid allegations of human trafficking, exposing the growing network of illegal immigration rackets. Her work has also focused on gang wars, prison administration, juvenile crime, women and child protection systems, the functioning of the Juvenile Justice Board and Child Welfare Committee, and environmental challenges such as pollution, waterlogging and deteriorating civic infrastructure. Beyond hard news, Leena has extensively documented Haryana's rich heritage, forests and wildlife, bringing attention to the state's historical landmarks, biodiversity, conservation efforts and ecological challenges through immersive reportage and feature writing. Her journalism has consistently gone beyond breaking news. She has documented Gurugram's rapid urbanisation through long-form narratives and enterprise reporting on issues ranging from pothole-ridden roads, flooding and waste management to the changing social fabric of India's Millennium City. She also writes widely read feature columns, including The Outsider, Changemaker, and Concern for Gurugram, profiling people, places and ideas shaping the city's identity. Leena is the author of Gurugram School Murder, published by Juggernaut Books, a deeply reported account of one of India's most high-profile school murder investigations. She is currently working on her second book, an investigative work exploring some of India's most significant scams and fraud investigations. Beyond print journalism, she has expanded her storytelling through public speaking and digital media. She is a TEDx speaker and has produced podcasts exploring Gurugram's transformation, civic challenges and untold stories. Her work reflects a commitment to narrative journalism that combines rigorous reporting with compelling storytelling. A law graduate with an MBA in Human Resources, Leena brings a multidisciplinary perspective to her reporting, particularly on governance, public policy and legal affairs. She has travelled extensively across India to pursue investigative assignments, often reporting from remote locations and conflict-prone areas in search of stories that matter.Read More