In a shocking development that reveals the audacity of illegal mining operations in Gujarat, the sand mafia in Banaskantha district has been found using sophisticated tracking technology to monitor police movements. A local court has exposed how criminal groups installed tracking devices on official patrol and flying squad vehicles to evade capture during illegal sand mining activities.
Court Exposes Mafia's High-Tech Operations
The Banaskantha district court made startling observations while hearing a case involving confiscated vehicles and excavators used in illegal mining operations. The court explicitly stated that "sand mafia in the district are without any control" and refused to release the impounded equipment. This revelation came during proceedings related to illegal mining activities in the Banas river.
Court documents revealed that the sand mafia had gone beyond traditional methods of avoiding law enforcement. They employed technical surveillance measures by secretly placing tracking devices on police vehicles assigned to monitor mining activities. This allowed criminal groups to track the real-time location of enforcement teams and continue their illegal operations undisturbed.
Illegal Mining Network Uncovered
The case came to light when authorities confiscated multiple vehicles and excavators involved in unauthorized sand extraction from the Banas river. During investigation, law enforcement discovered the sophisticated tracking system that had been deployed against them. The discovery was made in November 2025, with the court delivering its significant ruling on 22nd November 2025.
This incident highlights the evolving tactics of illegal mining networks in Gujarat. Rather than simply hiding from authorities, the sand mafia has taken an aggressive approach by actively monitoring police movements. The tracking devices enabled them to continue extraction operations while enforcement teams were in different locations, demonstrating a well-organized criminal enterprise.
Growing Concerns Over Mining Mafia Control
The court's strong statement about the sand mafia operating "without any control" underscores the challenges faced by authorities in curbing illegal mining activities. The use of technology against law enforcement represents a new level of sophistication in criminal operations that requires equally advanced counter-measures.
Environmental experts have expressed concern about the uncontrolled mining in the Banas river, which could lead to ecological damage and changes in river flow patterns. The illegal extraction not only causes environmental harm but also results in significant revenue loss for the state government.
Local residents and activists have long complained about the powerful sand mining networks operating in the region. This latest revelation about tracking police vehicles confirms the extensive resources and boldness of these criminal groups. Authorities now face the challenge of not only stopping illegal mining but also securing their own enforcement infrastructure against such surveillance tactics.
