The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Lokayukta police unearth mining racket in Chitradurga

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Friday, Jun 15, 2007
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Lokayukta police unearth mining racket in Chitradurga

Staff Reporter

11,500 tonnes of iron ore worth Rs. 1 crore seized

Mines Department told to book cases against the guilty
‘Illegal mining must have been on for at least six months’

Giving the details: Conservator of Forests, Bangalore, V.C. Singh (right) speaking to presspersons in Bangalore on Thursday, along with (from left) Upa Lokayukta Patri Basavana Goud, Lokayukta N. Santosh Hegde and State police chief K.R. Srinivasan.& #8212;

BANGALORE: The Lokayukta police of Bangalore unearthed illegal iron ore mining spread across 50 acres of government land in Chitradurga district, on Wednesday night.

Besides seizing over 11,500 tonnes of iron ore worth Rs. 1 crore, the team took possession of five earth movers (JCB), Rs. 15,280 and two mobile phones from the area.

Lokayukta N. Santosh Hegde told presspersons here on Thursday that the operation was carried out under the leadership of U.V. Singh, Conservator of Forests, Bangalore. Lokayukta police personnel and Quick Response Team of the City Armed Reserve, Bangalore, were part of the team, he said.

On specific information, Justice Hegde had asked Mr. Singh to gather details about illegal mining. Mr. Singh, after visiting the spot and interacting with local people, confirmed that illegal mining activities were going on Survey No. 9 of Aralikatte village in Holalkere taluk. Thereafter, the Lokayukta requested the Director General and Inspector General of Police K.R. Srinivasan to provide additional force.

Rangaswamy Naik, Superintendent of Police, Lokayukta, Bangalore, who led the team, said that 50 personnel had left Bangalore on Wednesday evening. Even as the team was getting ready to raid the locality, one of the JCB operators had attempted to mow down the personnel and in the process, one of their vehicles had got damaged, Mr. Naik said. As the personnel were equipped with sophisticated weapons, there was little resistance thereafter.

Mr. Singh said that the illegal operation in the mines raided by the personnel must have been on for at least six months. There were signs of old excavations around the area, which indicated that illegal mining was on for quite some time, he said.

Commending the valour exhibited by the police personnel, Mr. Hegde said that he would issue certificates of appreciation to each of them. He urged Mr. Srinivasan to make a similar gesture. In response to this, Mr. Srinivasan announced cash award of Rs. 1,000 to each of the police personnel who were part of the operation.

Crackdown

Mr. Hegde said the Lokayukta would widen the net to bring to book illegal miners. Whatever had been revealed was a matter of great shock. It had exposes officers concerned with the protection of government property, he said.

“We have plunged into the middle of the racket and it is a do or die situation for us,” he said.

Stating that no arrests had been made so far, the Lokayukta said he would ask the Mines and Geology Department to book cases against the guilty.

Meanwhile, the Lokayukta would continue its probe to pin those behind the racket, Mr. Hegde said.

Upa Lokayukta Patri Basavanagoud and Additional DGP (Lokayukta) Lal Rokhuma Pachuau were present.

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