Five booked for illegal sand mining in Sangrur village

The police on Saturday booked five people for illegal mining at Moonak and seized two tractors and a JBC machine from the spot. Police raided Maniana village on the complaint of Mohinder Singh Dhaliwal, industrial promotion officer, who complained to the police that the accused were violating the mining Act.

The Haryana-based accused have been identified as Minta Babu, Rakesh Kumar, residents of Tohana, Sushil Kumar from Narwana and Surja Singh from Hisar. All the accused, along with one unidentified person, have been booked under 379 (punishment for theft) and the Minerals Act 1957 at Moonak police station.

“They had started mining with tractors and the JBC machine, but police stopped them. Police have started investigation. The accused are on the run, but raids are being conducted to arrest the culprits,” said Parmanjit Singh, investigating officer. Meanwhile, deputy commissioner Amar Partap Singh Virk has formed special teams and directed all sub-divisional magistrates (SDMs) and deputy superintendents of police (DSPs) to work jointly with these teams to check on illegal mining in the district.

“The violation of the mining Act will not be tolerated. All the officials have been told to conduct raids and to ensure routine checking on roads day and night. They have also been advised to send their daily reports,” said Virk in a press statement.