Action against mining mafia police levy fine of Rs 17.10 lakh 

Himachal Pradesh Police claimed that it had collected fines tunes to Rs 17.10 lakh and compounded 226 vehicles including Tractor and JCB and launched

special campaign in the State against mining mafia . The special drive begun on August 1 took , strict action has been taken by the Police against the mining mafia till 07.08.2022. During this period, 322 challans have been done by the Police, out of which 295 challans have been compounded and a fine of Rs.  17 lakh 10 thousand 550 has been realized from the violators.The remaining 27 challans have been sent to the various courts.  During this special campaign, 226 vehicles involved in illegal mining have been caught, out of which 134 tractors, 80 tippers, 09 pickups, 2 trucks, 01 JCB are involved.  Due to seizure of a large number of vehicles during special campaign, no space is left in the Police Station to keep more vehicles.  Apart from this, 04 cases of illegal mining (01 in Police District Baddi) and 03 in Una District) have also been registered during the special campaign.  In these cases, three JCBs, one  tipper, tractor and 01 truck have been seized by the Police.  These cases would be referred to the Enforcement Directorate for investigation under Prevention of Money Laundry Act (PMLA). Presenting a comparative details from the year 2013 to 07 August 2022 a police spokesperson said that total of around 450 challans and a fine of around 23.90lacs have been realised so far. This figure is the highest since 2013 as per data. In 2020 fines worth 12.44 lakh were noted and numbers challans done were 144. Besides in all other years the fine realised was leas than 10 lakh wherein challans done, also averaged between 92 lowest (2013) and 148 highest(2019).

This year maximum fine realised is from Mandi district of amount 11.20lakh. Here 49 callans have been done and 33 vehicles and 9 mules have been seized.

From 79 challans Kangra distrcit police realised a fine worth 3.50lakh. Here, 47 tractors, 12 tippers, 01 truck and 10 mules have been seized.This is followed by Hamirpur, out of 58 challans, fine realised has been 3 41lakh and 26 tractors and 28 tippers have been seized.

Earlier 5 cases of mining mafia have been referred to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for action in which property worth Rs 5.73 Crores is involved, added the police spokesperson.

He said that figures shows that the State Police is adopting “zero tolerance policy against the mining mafia”and strict action is being taken against the persons involved.