Post News Network
Joda, Feb 19: In a major breakthrough into the alleged ongoing mining
plunder, a team of police personnel led by Barbil SDPO Ajay Pratap Swain
conducted raids in the forest areas of Bhuyan Roida under Joda mining circle in the wee hours of Thursday. Police, during the raids, arrested seven persons and seized four dumpers and a bike.
Acting on a tip-off about illegal transportation of manganese in the area, the police mounted a search operation and found that illegally extracted high grade manganese ore (MnO2) of 50 tonne was being loaded onto four dumpers with registration numbers: OR09J 7719; OR09K 7904; OR09K 7619 and OR19J 9225. The police team immediately took control of the vehicle and a bike used by mineral looters.
They arrested Khudram Munda, Mangara Munda, Sujura Munda, Bijay Munda of Roida slum, Bikash Munda, Thenu Naik and Soren Munda of Bhadrasahi area. The seized manganese is estimated to be `10 lakh in the market, said the Rugudi IIC Kisan.
The Barbil SDPO said that an investigation is on to ascertain who were involved in it and where the manganese ore was being transported.
He, however, claimed that police have got vital clues about the main mineral mafia. However, he did not reveal his name as it will hamper the investigation.
Oriya daily Dharitri had carried
several reports about large-scale illegal mining in the areas close to Roida and OMDC mines. Following such reports, the state enforcement squad had conducted raids in the area December 9, 2014 and seized a huge amount of iron ore and 15 tonne of manganese ore.
The state enforcement squad again raided the area December 22, 2014 and seized 50 tonne of illegally extracted iron ore and two tonne of manganese ore.
Though raids are being conducted by state level squads, district level squad, mines department and forest department, illegal mining has not yet been stopped completely. Locals wonder how police fail to keep tab on the illegal mining activities and catch trucks carrying illegal minerals. In a related development, a mining squad of Joda mining circle led by mining officer Salil Behera seized 90 tonne of manganese in the lease area of Tata Steel in the same locality.