Rohtas police demolished over 60 illegal stone crusher units and seized eight machines from Gopibigha village under the jurisdiction of Dehri-on-Sone police station in a major crackdown on Sunday morning.

This is the 12th operation launched by the police and the district authorities against illegal stone mining in the district in the past one-and-a- half-years.

However, those involved in the illegal business managed to give the police the slip.

Acting on a tip-off, a joint team of the police and administrative officials reached Gopibigha around 6am and started the operation, which concluded around 11am. Rohtas superintendent of police (SP) Manavjit Singh Dhillon led the raiding team.

Sources said the raiding team seized eight machines each costing Rs 2 lakh during the drive.

A total of 63 crusher units were demolished and set on fire by the police personnel, said a senior police official.

The drive was launched on the directive of Rohtas district magistrate Animesh Kumar Parashar, who received complaints about some crusher units operating at Gopibigha village even after a ban.

Dehri sub-divisional officer Pankaj Patel said the operation would continue. In January this year, district authorities had demolished 124 stone crushers operating illegally in the district, he told The Telegraph.

"It was part of the action against the stone-mining mafia, who have been operating in violation of the rule of law," Rohtas SP Dhillon told reporters after the police action.

He said the government had already banned mining in the protected areas. "We will not allow anybody to violate the rule of law," the SP said.

Another police official, who was part of the raiding team, admitted that the crusher units were running illegally in full knowledge of the district because of their close links with those in power.

During his recent Nishchay Yatra in the district, chief minister Nitish Kumar had directed the district administration and police officials not to spare anyone involved in illegal mining.