Patna: The Rohtas district administration carried out raids against illegal sand mining and its transportation leading to the seizure of 38 vehicles and sand worth Rs 10 lakh from coal depot beside National Highway 2 on Thursday.
The drive was launched on the directive of inspector-general (Patna zone) of police Nayyar Hasnain Khan, a day after he reviewed cases pending for investigation in the districts falling under Shahabad range in south and central Bihar.
Acting on a tip-off, a joint team comprising officials of the mining department, district administration and the district armed police conducted a raid at the coal depot in Dehri-on-Sone and seized the sand-laden vehicles. The sand which had been stocked illegally would also be seized.
"At present we are trying to ascertain the identity of the land owners whose premises were being used to store the sand in violation of the prescribed rules of the mine and geology department," said Dehri-sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) Anwar Javed.
Dehri sub-divisional officer (SDO) Gautam Kumar said the land owners would also be made accused in the case for allowing their premises to be used for unlawful activities.
The illegal mining of sand, storage and transportation led to huge financial loss to the state exchequer, he added.
Gautam revealed that the circle officer of Dehri had been directed to prepare the list of such land owners.
The SDO said the drive against the sand mafia would continue.
"A special team has been formed to check smuggling of sand in the district," he told The Telegraph.
Additional police forces from different police stations such as Akaurigola, Dehri-on-Sone, Indrapuri, Kargahar, Darihat and Dalmianagar police stations were engaged in the operation, which concluded around 6pm.
The drive was launched at 9am with over 500 police personnel.
IG Khan had directed the Rohtas superintendent of police Satyaveer Singh to launch a special drive against sand smugglers in the district.
The inspector-general of police's direction came soon after a review meeting at Dehri-on-Sone in Rohtas on Wednesday.
