THEFT OF SAND SEIZED BY THE EOU

THEFT OF SAND SEIZED BY THE EOU

27-NOV-ENG 16

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

PATNA---------------------------According to information about illegal sand mining and stockpiling, the EOU and district administration seized sand worth crores in June and July and filed an FIR.

Following the announcement of the assembly elections, the police and administration were actively engaged in enforcing the model code of conduct and ensuring a peaceful election. Meanwhile, sand mafias stole and sold the seized sand worth crores. Tarunmitra published a news report on this matter on November 18th, titled: "While the police and administration are busy with elections, sand mafias steal seized sand worth crores." Taking the matter seriously, on the orders of the Mining Headquarters, District Mining Officer, Patna, Kartik Kumar, formed a joint team of Mining Inspectors Uttam Mani, Govind Kumar, and Rajiv Ranjan Singh to inspect the site of the seized sand and take necessary action.

The team formed by the District Mining Officer, Patna, inspected the site of the seized sand and found that sand had been stolen from several locations, and less sand was found in the measured quantity. Mining Inspector Uttam Mani filed an FIR against unknown persons in Ranitalab last Saturday, while Rajiv Ranjan Singh also filed an FIR against unknown persons at the Ranitalab police station regarding the theft of seized sand. Seized sand has also been stolen in the Bikram police station area, and Mining Inspector Uttam Mani has filed an FIR at the Bikram police station. According to the FIR, The first FIR in Ranital involved damages of ₹1.36 crore, the second FIR involved ₹3.31 crore, and the FIR in Bikram involved ₹5.5 lakh, totaling ₹5.22 crore. According to mining officials, the police station in question was responsible for the safekeeping of the seized sand. No information was provided by the police station.

DSP 2 Pankaj Kumar Sharma stated that an explanation would be sought from the investigator in the case, and action would be taken if negligence was found. Previously, the investigator was instructed to identify the land where the illegal sand was stored, investigate the landowner's role, and question local intelligence officers to identify those involved in the illegal sand trade, and file warrants and confiscate property if they remained absconding.

The EOU, acting as the nodal agency, has been investigating the illegal sand trade. The EOU has been receiving continuous information that several individuals were involved in the illegal sand trade. Illegal sand mining and storage is underway in the district, and sand is being bought and sold without invoices or using fake invoices. The EOU, in conjunction with the district police and administration, inspected the Son River basin in Patna district and found that sand had been stolen and stored at numerous locations along and around the Son River. In this regard, the District Mining Inspector, in the presence of the EOU, registered cases numbered 253/25, 274/25, 262/25 at Ranital Police Station, 502/25, 531/25 at Bihta Police Station, 455/25 at Maner Police Station, and 294/25 at Bikram Police Station. Considering the related FIRs, sand worth several crores was seized, and this was considered a major action. The failure to successfully uncover the theft of seized sand worth crores raises many questions. Let's see what happens next.