Bhubaneswar: As many as 1359 cases have been registered and 1224 people arrested in connection with the smuggling of minor minerals in Odisha during the past three years, Steel and Mines Minister Prafulla Kumar Mallik told the state Assembly Monday.
Replying to a question from Soumya Ranjan Patnaik (BJD), the Minister said the highest number of 1161 cases were registered and 1174 people arrested from Khordha district alone during the last three years.
During the period 27 officers/ employees have been attacked by the mafias in the state, Mallik said.
The Minister however said no case has been registered against anyone and no one has been arrested by the Mines department in the last three years in connection with illegal mining and smuggling of major minerals and specified minor minerals.
UNI
