25 arrested for illegal quarrying, 85 vehicles seized

Dehradun, May 29: In a massive crackdown on the mining mafia in Uttarakhand, 25 people engaged in illegal quarrying in ecologically sensitive areas close to the Ganga were arrested following raids conducted at different places in Dehradun and Haridwar districts.

Police said here today that 85 vehicles used by them were seized during the raid. The raids, which began on Sunday following a tip off that members of the mining mafia had taken shelter in some of the villages in the two districts, led to the arrest of 25 people.

Cases have been registered at Nehru colony, Doiwala and Clermentown police stations against the mafia members owning the tractor-trolleys and trucks seized during the raids, they said.

Despite a ban in place, illegal quarrying was being done by these persons in ecologically sensitive areas close to the Ganga, they said.

14 persons engaged in illegal quarrying were arrested from Nehru Colony, 10 from Clementown and one from Doiwala, they said.

PTI