Rampur | Dec 18, 2017: Police on Monday lodged five FIRs against people for allegedly carrying out illegal sand mining on the banks of the river Kosi. This follows a recent order by the Allahabad High Court, instructing the Uttar Pradesh government to consider the suspension of two former district magistrates (DMs) of Rampur. The high court had also sought a report from the Rampur DM in the matter.
Following a complaint filed by the district mines officer Y N Ram, the FIRs were lodged. Ram said, “After receiving information from local residents about mining along the banks of the Kosi, we raided the spot and seized two dredging machines. One of the drivers was arrested. Some of the offenders managed to flee from the spot.”
Swar circle officer Rahul Kumar said, “In a period of a month, 20 FIRs have been registered against members of the mining mafia at various police stations within Swar and Tanda tehsils. A total of 38 people have been arrested in connection with these cases. After completing investigations, police have also filed chargesheets in court against the offenders.”
Kumar added, “Round-the-clock surveillance by police is also being conducted along the banks of the Kosi, after identifying key points where activities of the mining mafia has been noticed.”
Police have also been deployed at Bilaspur Tiraha, Dadyal Tiraha and at Mursaina Chowki to keep an eye on movement of trucks loaded with illegally mined sand.
Meanwhile, Maqsood (who goes by his first name), the resident of Dadyal area here who had filed the PIL at Allahabad high court has now demanded security, alleging he has been receiving threats from the mining mafia.
“Now the mafia wants to kill me, because in this area nobody has ever dared to raise their voice against such activities. I had met police officers and they had assured I would be provided with security. Locals involved with the mafia have been keeping track of my activities, and my family is very scared of what these people may do,” Maqsood said.
(Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/)