BOKARO | Oct 18, 2016: An illegal mining racket of mineral feldspar was busted on Monday when a forest department team, led by divisional forest officer Rajender Naidu, conducted a raid in the forests of Triyonala under Kasmar block here.

They found a large stock of gelatin sticks and detonators from the spot. A tractor loaded with feldspar was seized and the driver, Shivlal Karmali, was arrested.

For the first time illegal mining of feldspar in a Naxal-frequented area came to the fore. Forest department sources said feldspar is a white stone used in making ceramics, glass, paints, plastic and rubber. The excavated mineral was illegally transported to Ramgarh and other places.

The DFO lodged an FIR with the Kasmar police station. A case will also be lodged against those involved in encroaching upon forest land and conducting illegal mining. "It seems illegal mining was going on for the past several years at the spot. There is information of two more illegal feldspar mines in that forest," said the DFO.

Forest officials busted several illegal crushers, stone and coal mines in the recent past. Sources said illegal mines are big revenue for the Reds. Maoists give shelter to smugglers to run the unlawful trade.

Naidu said, "I was shocked to see mining of feldspar inside the forest on such a large scale. The spot was about one km inside the forest from the nearest approach road. The smugglers had made a path by cutting down trees," he said. "Police are interrogating the driver," said the DFO.

(Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/)