Patna: Police have set up a special investigation team (SIT) under the leadership of superintendent of police (SP), east, Rajendra Kumar Bheel to crack down on illegal mining and transportation of sand in the eastern parts of the capital district.

The SIT has so far arrested 16 persons allegedly involved in the illegal trade. The sub-divisional police officers of Patna City and Fatuha have been asked to assist the SIT to check the illegal business flourishing in the areas under the jurisdiction of the Malsalami and Didarganj police stations.

The SIT is learnt to have prepared a list of the sand smugglers and raids against them are likely soon.

Some of the alleged smugglers on the SIT radar include Bachha Rai, Sanjay Gope, Vijay Rai and Lal Bahadur Rai, police sources said.

Certain points at Malsalami and Didarganj were being used as dumping ground for the illegally mined sand.

Patna City sub-divisional police officer Baliram Kumar Choudhary said that the cops, on the instructions of senior superintendent of police Manu Maharaaj, had carried out a major operation on Friday against sand smuggling rackets.

All the police personnel of Malsalami and Didarganj police stations, including the station house officers, were removed from the two police stations and asked to assume duty at the police lines with immediate effect.

The disciplinary action against the policemen was taken after the police brass received numerous complaints of illegal mining.

The police had also seized 32 sand-laden tractors during the operation on Friday.

The state government has banned sand mining from riverbanks during the rainy season.

However, illegal mining continues unabated.