Illegal Mining: 2 excavators, 8 vehicles seized in Kathua

Two excavators and eight loaded vehicles involved in illegal mining were today seized in different parts of Kathua district.  District Mineral Officer (DMO) Rajinder Singh Rana  led surprise raids by a team of Geology and Mining at Ravi River, Ujh River, Sahar Khad and Hiranagar and seized eight vehicles and two excavators. The seized vehicles have been kept in the custody of police till realization of penalty. DMO Kathua informed that one excavator was excavating material from illegally encroached State land at Taraf Tajwal and the other excavator was caught mining River Bed Material (RBM) near a stone crusher in Ravi belt in violation of mining rules.