ADGP warns of action against officers linked to the mining mafia

Bhubaneswar: A day after an Assistant Mines Officer (AMO) of the Deputy Director General of Mines Office in Koraput was brutally attacked by sand smugglers amid reports of tacit support of some police officials to the mafia, the Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) said ), Law and Order Sanjay Kumar on Thursday warned of serious action against officers found hand-in-hand with such criminal elements. AMO Pitambara Mohanta had suffered deep facial injuries in the attack by the hoodlums on Wednesday after he stopped seven vehicles, including six dumpers and one tractor, involved in illegal sand mining under the jurisdiction of the city police station in the Southern District.

In a letter addressed to all IGPs, DIGPs and the Twin City Police Commissioner, Kumar said, “It has come to the notice of the SP and the Headquarters that certain field officers are involved in activities unrelated to police duties, especially at area of ​​transportation and other unauthorized activities in mining and industrial zones. This issue has highlighted that such actions fall outside the scope of police responsibilities.” Kumar warned of serious action against officials found persistently involved in the illegal trade or showing favoritism towards the channels of smuggling activities and directed the field officials to keep a watch on such behavior. “All field officers are hereby instructed to take note of this directive and strictly adhere to it,” Kumar’s letter added. Before the Mohanta attack, two mining officers in Bada Bisol area under Kaptipada division in Mayurbhanj district were violently attacked by smugglers after the officers imposed fines on June 30 for illegally transporting sand from the Sono river.

DEBADURLLAV HARICHANDAN, OP