Siliguri, 13th December: The Siliguri Metropolitan Police successfully foiled an illegal sand smuggling operation late on Friday night, seizing seven dumpers carrying sand from the Balasan River.
Reportedly, acting on a tip-off from confidential sources, officers from Matigara police station conducted a night-time operation and intercepted the dumpers transporting sand mined without paying royalties. Four drivers involved in the operation have been arrested, while three others are reported to be absconding.
The crackdown comes after Darjeeling MP Raju Bista raised concerns over illegal mining from local rivers, prompting the police to intensify action against sand mafias.
The four arrested drivers were produced before the Siliguri court on Saturday. Police are actively investigating the operation to identify other individuals involved in the illegal mining activities.
Authorities have announced that such drives will be intensified further to curb unlawful extraction of sand from rivers in the region.