Excelsior Correspondent
KATHUA, Oct 12: Six persons, including the brother of Congress MP from Kathua-Udhampur-Doda Lok Sabha Constituency, Ch Lal Singh were arrested for illegal mining in district Kathua today.
A top police officer said Sohan Singh, who is the brother of Ch Lal Singh, Congress Member Parliament, hailing from Kathua, was among the six arrested from ‘Saar Khud’ riverine belt in Kathua for illegal mining today.
He disclosed that District Magistrate, Kathua Zahida Khan has already banned mining in river beds in several riverine areas of Kathua and the six held were found carrying out illegal mining within 500 mts area of National Highways and railways and other bridges.
The five other arrested include Raman, son of Krishan Chand of Ward No 3 Kathua, Darshan Singh, son of Babu Singh of Thayarra village, Sunil Kumar, son of Kaku Ram of Kalibari , Jatinder Kumar, son of Tersem Lal of Kalibari and Surjit Singh, son of Kirpal Singh, resident of the same area.
The Police party led by SSP Kathua Atul Goel, assisted by DySP Daljit Singh, SHO Kathua Chanchal Singh and Tehsildar Jatinder Mishra carried out the operation. The police said a JCB used for illegal mining was also seized. Despite objections from the Railway authorities, these people were carrying illegal mining near an important Railway bridge. It was learnt that Sohan Singh has one stone crusher at Saar Khaud and another one at the bank of river Ravi. Both are said to be operating illegally and the proper permission from the SPCB. The district police authorities have written to the SPCB authorities for action in this regard.
The MP’s brother was, however, granted bail by the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Kathua this evening.
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