Eight trucks of illegal iron ore seized in Orissa
By IANSFriday, February 5, 2010
BHUBANESWAR - Eight trucks of iron ore being illegally transported in Orissa’s Keonjhar district were seized Friday, police said.
“On a tip-off, a team of policemen tracked eight trucks transporting iron ore illegally in Badbil area. All the eight trucks were led by a Bolero,” Rajesh Pandit, the sub-divisional police officer of Barbil, told IANS.
Two people have been arrested and police are probing how long the illegal trade was going on. According to police, the iron ore was illegally transported to different areas in the state as well to Jharkhand.
Investigations by various state and central agencies into illegal mining in Orissa started after some politicians alleged in July that some mines were operating without licences.
The mining officials have already seized more than five lakh tonnes of iron ore from various places in mineral rich districts of Keonjhar and Sundergarh since July.
Keonjhar is about 235 km from Bhubaneswar.
