Keonjhar: In a major crackdown on sand mafia, a special squad of police in Odisha’s Keonjhar conducted simultaneous raids at multiple locations across the district.
Police said the raids, carried out by 12 teams of the special squad, targeted several areas under Anandapur, Ghasipura, and Nandipada police station limits, including the Ghatgaon region.
The teams targeted the hideouts and residences of suspected sand mafia operators in the district
. They also raided the residence of Jitendra Sa, a prominent sand trader in Ghatgaon. The operation is focused on unearthing illegal sand mining, transportation, and related financial transactions.
During the raids, officials seized cash to the tune of Rs 25 lakh and over 30 vehicles.
Additionally, 12 persons have so far been detained for questioning. Police are thoroughly examining documents and other incriminating evidence recovered during the searches. The drive is part of a continued effort to curb illegal sand extraction and trade in the district.
Officials said illegal sand mining and smuggling had been continuing in the district for a long time, causing huge revenue losses to the government through the use of forged documents. Officials stated that verification of seized documents is underway and more arrests are likely in the coming days.