3 held for illegal mining in Hoshiarpur district

HOSHIARPUR: Amid allegations of illegal sand mining under the patronage of leaders of the ruling SAD-BJP alliance, Hoshiarpur police arrested three persons and recovered five vehicles being used for quarrying on January 20 near Dihana village. Punjab jail minister Sohan Singh Thandal's son Ravinder Thandal also reached the spot and allegedly tried to get the issue resolved when villagers were protesting against illegal mining.
However, Thandal has claimed that his son went there after getting information about the dispute and he did not argue in favour of those indulging in mining. Residents of Dihana also staged a dharna on January 19 while illegal mining was being done from a choe (seasonal rivulet), alleging that they had been complaining to the authorities but no action was being taken against the offenders who enjoyed political patronage.
Dihana resident Major Singh, in whose fields mining was being done, said quarrying was going on for the last one week and hundreds of truckloads of earth were loaded. He alleged it was being done with political patronage and he was even being threatened by the ruling party leaders. "Around one acre land has been dug for mining. After it did not stop, I sought help from Congress leader Raj Kumar who came to the spot and took up the issue with officials," he said.
Punjab Congress general secretary and SC cell convener Raj Kumar reached the spot after the villagers informed him on January 19. He claimed that minister Thandal's son Ravinder was already there with his gunmen and argued that mining was being done legally with permission from authorities for cleaning of the drain.
"After we sought papers, he left. I complained to deputy commissioner Anindita Mitra and other officials over phone. Mining department officials and police were rushed to the spot. Police should investigate that where the earth was being used," he said.
The mining department officials said mining from the area was illegal and they had not given any sanction for it. On the basis of a complaint by a mining department official, police booked three drivers of the vehicles under Section 21 (1) of Mining Mineral Rules and arrested them while one fled from the spot. The accused were released on bail on Wednesday.
Ravinder Thandal, who is also a Youth Akali Dal leader, did not take calls on his mobile phone. His father and minister Sohan Thandal said Ravinder looked after the constituency in his absence and went to Dihana after getting information about a dispute. "Can he not go to our constituency when some issue arises? When a Congress leader can go there why not my son who is also a political activist," he said. Sohan claimed that his son did not argue in support of those who were indulging in mining and it is a false allegation leveled by Congress and Ravinder's name did not figure in the FIR.