J&K Govt orders probe into the functioning of Kathua District Mineral Office

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Jammu: The Jammu and Kashmir Government on Friday ordered an enquiry into the anomalies in the functioning of District Mineral Office, Kathua.

Referring to a letter written by Jammu Kashmir Police Headquarters pointing out anomalies into the functioning of District Mineral Office, Kathua, an order issued by General Administration Department, said that Nisar Ahmad, incharge Joint Director in the Geology and Mining Department, Jammu, has been appointed enquiry officer to enquire into the matter. He shall submit his enquiry report within a period of 15 days, it added.

The Director General of Police in a letter dated August 3 to the Chief Secretary Dr Arun Kumar Mehta had highlighted the activities of “mining mafia’’ in Kathua district.

Referring to a report sought from Kathua SSP, it had named an officer of the District Mining Office, saying that he was directly or indirectly hand in glove with mining contractor particularly one hailing from Tarda (Mehtabpur) in Kathua district. The officer has managed his transfer in Kathua district third time, it had pointed out.

It had also referred to another official in the District Mining Officer having nexus with mining mafia/royalty agents.

Seeking action in the matter, the letter had pointed out that the police in the district had seized 101 vehicles for illegal mining during the current year.