43 persons arrested for illegal transportation of iron ore

Mangalore, July 21 (UNI) Karnataka Department of Mines and Geology Officials have busted an alleged racket of illegal transportation of iron ore using fake documents have seized around 48 trucks and arrested 43 persons in this connection at Surathkal, about 20 km from here yesterday.

On verifying the documents of trucks carrying iron ore to New Mangalore Port, the officials stumbled upon an alleged racket of transporting iron ore illegally, using fake documents. The documents in possession with the drivers of the seized trucks were found to be fake and other documents such as trip sheets, permits of Mines and Geology Department and other relevant documents pertaining to transportation of ore were fake and have been prepared systematically to hoodwink the authorities.

All the seized documents have been handed over to the Surathkal police for further investigation.

In the recent past, such cases have become rampant. However, the officials were yet to verify genuineness of the seized documents.

The trucks possess receipts for having passed through several check-posts from Hospet till Surathkal as well as documents proving that the trucks were weighed.

Despite registering complaints, the people travelling on the National Highway 17, particularly on the stretch between Mangalore and Surathkal, have been experiencing unprecedented traffic jams at several places since last several week owing to haphazard parking of iron ore loaded trucks.

UNI MA MSP TS1633