Bhubaneswar, April 19:The Ganjam administration has launched a significant crackdown on illegal sand mining, resulting in the seizure of 13 tractors and the initiation of legal action against their owners. The operation took place on Saturday night, following mounting concerns over unlawful sand extraction in the region.

The raid was carried out by officials of the mining department near Mahachhai village, under the jurisdiction of Kabisuryanagar police.

This action followed intelligence reports about illegal sand mining activities along the Rushikulya River.

Acting on a tip-off, the enforcement team conducted a surprise operation along the riverbank, where they found multiple tractors being loaded with sand.

Upon seeing the enforcement team approaching, the perpetrators abandoned their vehicles and fled the scene. Authorities quickly seized all 13 tractors found at the site.

The operation was a joint effort involving the Purushottampur Tahasildar, mining officials from Kabisuryanagar, and local police.

To prevent further illegal sand lifting, officials also implemented Section 163 of the BNS and marked the area with red flags.

Legal cases have been filed against the vehicle owners, and investigations are ongoing to uncover the full extent of the illegal operation. However, the incident has sparked concerns, particularly as several of the seized tractors were reportedly without number plates. Many are questioning why decisive action was not taken earlier, given the ongoing illegal mining activities in the area.