Odisha RTI Activist Arrested in Connection with Illegal Mining in India

An RTI activist has been arrested in the Jajpur district of Odisha on allegations of conducting illegal excavation and transportation of earth and murrum from a government land. The activist was apprehended after the tehsildar filed a complaint against him and two others on Tuesday evening. Along with the activist, the police have also arrested five others, including some drivers operating tractors and an earthmover used in the illegal mining activities. After receiving a tip-off regarding the illegal mining in Saroi village, the tehsildar went to the spot and found five tractors and an earthmover carrying out illegal excavation and transportation of the said elements from government land. The drivers admitted to excavating over 100 trips of earth and murrum from the government land, and dumping them on private land, owned by three individuals, including the RTI activist. The police seized all the heavy vehicles used in the illegal mining and started their investigation under the Mines and Minerals Development and Regulation Act. The Jajpur Collector informed that the district administration has been conducting its enforcement on illegal mining and has successfully managed to file over 100 FIRs against the violators, imposing over Rs 300 crore on the illegal mining in the last two years.