Illegal Mining Uncovered in Hamirpur: CM Vows No One Will Be Spared, No Matter How Influential
In a dramatic revelation during the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly on Tuesday, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu disclosed that illegal mining operations in the Sujanpur area of Hamirpur district had been exposed during a recent police raid—allegedly running under the protection of powerful individuals.
Acting on a tip-off received on August 12, a police team led by the Additional SP braved adverse weather to raid a stone crusher unit that had been officially shut down last year. What they found was startling: heavy machinery, including a Poklane, two JCBs, four tippers, a mixer machine, and around 50 tipper loads of boulders, all in active use. A DVR and a tractor linked to one Manveer Singh were also seized.
An FIR (No. 53/2025) has been registered under Section 303(2) of the Indian Justice Code, 2023, along with relevant provisions of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957. The CM confirmed that the crusher’s lease had been cancelled in March 2024, yet operations continued illegally. The Mining Department is now involved, and bank details of the accused have been obtained. The DVR footage has been sent to RFSL Junga for forensic analysis.
The accused include Praveen Sharma, the crusher owner, his nephew Umesh Sharma, and associates Satish Sharma and Sanjay Kumar—all of whom have filed for anticipatory bail. The CM also revealed that Praveen Sharma is facing another case for allegedly fraudulently obtaining a contractor’s certificate in collusion with officials.
“This is a blot on democracy,” Sukhu declared. “If elected representatives or their relatives shield illegal activities, it threatens the dignity of the state. No one will be spared—no matter how influential.”
The statement sparked a sharp response from BJP legislator Ashish Sharma, who denied the allegations, claiming the crushers had been shut for over a year. He said his family had even written to the DGP demanding a trespass case against the police. He challenged the CM to prove that legislators had accepted money to switch sides.
The Speaker intervened, restricting Sharma from going beyond the references made in the CM’s statement.
