Jajpur: Tension ran high Karadapala village under Sukinda Tehsil in Jajpur district after a group of irate locals torched two stone crushing machines protesting rampant stone smuggling in the locality.
After being informed about the incident, district officials and police reached the spot and took stock of the situation.
“Even though the district administration and police had initiated action against stone mafia based on the complaints by the local residents on several occasions, they continue to smuggle stones to other districts of the state. As a result of which various infrastructure development projects are being affected in the area. If stone smuggling continues at this rate, construction of buildings, roads and other developmental projects will be largely affected”, a local resident said.
