Baramulla, Feb 26: Police on Sunday arrested half a dozen drivers and seized their vehicles in two separate incidents of illegal mining in the Pattan and Chandoosa areas of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.
A police official said that under the supervision of SDPO Pattan Mohd Nawaz, who was assisted by Sub Inspector Mohammad Mustafa and In-charge Police Post Kungamdara, two drivers were arrested and their tractors seized. He identified the drivers as Aijaz Yousuf Dar and Mohammad Shahid Dar, both residents of KP Payeen Singhpora at Khore Sherabad Pattan. They were found to be involved in illegal mining, he said.
Similarly, under the supervision of Khalid Ashraf, SDPO Kreeri, who was assisted by Inspector Irfan Ahmad and SHO Police Station Chandoosa, police seized four tippers and arrested their drivers, Manzoor Ahmad Parray, Ghulam Mohd Malik, Khalid Hussain Malla, and Imtiyaz Ahmad Dar, the official said, adding that the drivers, all residents of Kitchama and Sheeri, were found to be involved in illegal transportation of minerals.
In both incidents, cases under relevant sections of the law were registered in the respective police stations and investigations have been set in motion, the official said.
Illegal mining has been a persistent issue in district Baramulla, with authorities cracking down on the practice in recent months. Police have urged the people to report any such activities to the authorities to help curb the menace.
