By IANS,
Bhubaneswar: Three people were arrested for illegal mining in Orissa’s mineral rich Keonjhar district Thursday, taking the total number of people held for the offence in the past week to 10, police said.
“We have arrested three people from Barbil area today (Thursday). They were involved in illegal mining of iron ore from prohibited areas,” Superintendent of Police A.K. Singh told IANS.
During the past two months, at least 90 people have been arrested in Keonjhar district, 230 km from here, for illegal mining.
Investigations into illegal mining by various state and central agencies started after some politicians alleged in July that some mines were operating without licences.
Two people arrested this week were booked under the stringent National Security Act, under which they can be detained for up to one year without trial.