One more booked for illegal mining in Orissa

BHUBANESWAR - Police in Orissa Sunday charged one more person under the National Security Act (NSA) in the mineral-rich Keonjhar district over crimes related to mining, taking the number of people booked under the act in the region to four, an official said.

Kashinath Behera, 38, was arrested last month from Joda area for his involvement in about a dozen of criminal cases, District Superintendent of Police A.K. Singh told IANS.

He has been involved in rioting, looting and assault cases and was earlier booked under NSA in 2001, Singh said.

Under the provisions of NSA, he may be kept in detention for up to one year without trial.

Investigations into illegal mining in Orissa by various state and central agencies began after some politicians alleged in July last year that some mines were being operated without licences.

Since January, over 150 people have been arrested in Keonjhar, 235 km from Bhubaneswar, for their involvement in crimes related to mining. Police had slapped NSA against two of them last month and against one person earlier this month.

Police said many of those arrested had formed a syndicate and were earning crores of rupees by illegally mining and transporting iron ore from the district. Officials added that the accused were also involved in several murders and extortion cases.