In a major crackdown on illegal mining, the Nurpur police and mining department officials conducted their second operation in four days, seizing heavy machinery from the Beas riverbed in the Rey-Pattan mand area under Fatehpur police station. The operation, led by DSP Jawali Biri Singh, took place on the intervening night of July 10 and 11, 2026. Teams intercepted a Poclain excavator (Kobelco-220), a JCB machine, and a tipper allegedly used for illegal mineral extraction.
Second Operation in Four Days
Earlier, on the night of July 6, police had conducted a similar operation in the same area, seizing one Poclain excavator, one JCB machine, and five multi-axle trucks. The repeated actions underscore the authorities' intensified efforts to curb illegal mining along the Beas River, which has been a hotspot for unauthorized extraction.
According to police, a Quick Response Team (QRT) and mining department personnel, during special night patrolling in the interstate Rey-Pattan area adjoining the Beas River, detected heavy machinery engaged in extracting minerals from the riverbed. The drivers of the excavators and the tipper fled the scene, leaving the machinery behind. Police seized the equipment, while the owners of the JCB machine and the tipper later arrived at the spot.
FIR Registered Under Multiple Laws
Nurpur ASP Dharam Chand Verma confirmed that the police have registered an FIR under Sections 329(C) and 303(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Section 21(1) of the Mines and Minerals Act, and Section 15 of the Environment Protection Act against the owners of the seized machinery. The legal action reflects the severity of the violations, which include illegal mining and environmental damage.
Preliminary police investigation has revealed that a mining mafia from neighbouring Punjab is active in the Himachal Pradesh jurisdiction of the Beas River in the mand area of Fatehpur subdivision in Nurpur. According to police, the mafia allegedly extracts minerals illegally from the riverbed and transports them for use in stone crushers operating in neighbouring Punjab that do not possess mining leases or permission.
Impact and Ongoing Probe
The crackdown is part of a broader strategy to dismantle the illegal mining network that exploits the Beas riverbed. The seizure of heavy machinery, including a Poclain excavator valued at several lakh rupees, deals a significant blow to the operations. Police are investigating the links between the machinery owners and the Punjab-based network, with further arrests expected.
Authorities have urged local residents to report any suspicious mining activities, emphasizing that illegal extraction not only depletes natural resources but also poses environmental risks such as riverbank erosion and water pollution. The joint operations between police and mining department are set to continue, with night patrols being intensified in sensitive areas.
