Chandigarh | Punjab Mines and Geology Minister Sh. Barinder Kumar Goyal today said that the Punjab Government has further intensified its crackdown on illegal mining across the state with four separate enforcement operations in Pathankot, Kapurthala and Sri Anandpur Sahib. The operations resulted in the seizure of heavy machinery and vehicles used in illegal mining, the registration of cases against a stone crusher owner and the arrest of one person.

He informed that in the late-night operation conducted in the Jaswan village area of Pathankot district, the department seized a Poklain machine and an unnumbered tipper loaded with approximately 400 cubic feet (CFT) of gravel.

The Cabinet Minister informed that multiple teams of District Mining Office, Pathankot conducted inspections in the crusher zone at Jaswan village. During the inspection at Trehan Stone Crusher, the team found a yellow Poklain machine (Model R215L, CR No. N635D01027) being used in illegal mining activity and an unnumbered tipper bearing chassis number MAT569054 TAD12679, loaded with approximately 400 CFT of gravel.

The police took possession of the Poklain machine and the gravel-laden tipper. The case was subsequently registered under Section 21(1) of the Mines and Minerals Act, 1957, and Sections 303(2) and 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at Taragarh Police Station.

The Cabinet Minister said that Trehan Stone Crusher had already been suspended by the Executive Engineer, Drainage-cum-Mining and Geology, vide letter No. 5243 dated May 22, 2026. Despite the suspension, the crusher was operating with the help of a generator and selling mineral material. The crusher owner was misleading customers by claiming that the crusher was operating with government approval.

As per the department’s records, the stone crusher is registered in the name of Navjot Singh, son of Khajan Singh, resident of Manwal Bagh village under Shahpurkandi Police Station in Pathankot district, he added.

SIX TIPPERS, POCLAIN MACHINE, TRACTOR SEIZED AND ONE HELD IN KAPURTHALA RAID

In a separate operation in Kapurthala district, the Mining Department’s flying squad, along with the local police, raided Khijarpur village and seized six tippers, a Poklain machine and a tractor in connection with the illegal mining activities. Two of the seized tippers were each loaded with approximately 800 cubic feet (CFT) of sand.

An FIR has been registered against Mical, resident of Lamma Pind, Jalandhar and five unidentified persons under Section 21(1) of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act at Talwandi Chaudharian Police Station in Kapurthala district.

TWO ILLEGAL MINING CASES REPORTED IN SRI ANANDPUR SAHIB, POCLAIN MACHINE SEIZED

Similarly, in Sri Anandpur Sahib district, raids were conducted in village Swara over the last two days to curb illegal mining activities. In the first case, FIR No. 152 dated October 16, 2026, has been registered against the landowner for illegal mining. In the second case, a complaint has been submitted against the landowner and an orange-coloured Poclain machine, make Tata Hitachi EX 110i, being used in illegal mining, has been impounded and handed over to the police.

Mines and Geology Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal said that the Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann-led government is committed to curbing illegal mining and taking strict legal action against those found violating mining regulations. He said that the Mining Department is working in close coordination with the police to detect illegal mining activities and bring the offenders to justice.

Strict enforcement of the law is being ensured to prevent losses to the state exchequer and mining operations are being carried out in accordance with the prescribed rules and regulations, said the Cabinet Minister.