North Kashmir Police Nab 272, Seize 240 Vehicles in Year-Long Mining Blitz

 

Suhail Khan

 

Baramulla, Dec 23: As the year draws to a close, police in North Kashmir have released data detailing a significant crackdown on illegal mining and sand extraction across the northern region.

According to official figures, authorities registered 202 First Information Reports (FIRs), arrested 272 individuals, and seized 240 vehicles in 2025.

 

This information was conveyed in a year-end communication from the office of the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of the North Kashmir Range, accessed by Kashmir Convener. The report covers operations conducted in the districts of Baramulla, Kupwara, Bandipora, Sopore, and Handwara.

 

The communication emphasized that unauthorized mining remains a serious offence and warned that strict legal action will be taken against anyone involved in such activities. It also urged the public to refrain from participating in or supporting the unlawful extraction of minerals and sand.

 

Speaking to Kashmir Convener, a senior police officer said, “Unauthorized mining is not a minor violation; it is a serious offence that leads to significant environmental degradation, alters river courses, and results in substantial revenue loss to the state exchequer.”

 

“The law will take its strictest course against anyone involved in this illegal trade, irrespective of their stature,” he added.

The officer continued, “We urge citizens, especially those living near riverbanks and vulnerable areas, to act as responsible stakeholders. Refrain from participating in or supporting any unlawful extraction activity. Report such elements to the police. Protecting our natural resources is a collective duty.”

 

Another senior police officer, speaking on condition of anonymity given the sensitivity of the operations, told Kashmir Convener, “The numbers reflect our consistent operational priority. These are not one-off actions but a continuous process of identification, raid, seizure, and legal follow-up. The message is clear: this exploitation must stop.”

 

He added that this campaign is part of a broader strategy. “Our commitment to curbing environmental degradation and illegal resource exploitation is unwavering. This is not the conclusion but a marker of our ongoing efforts. We will continue with even more stringent measures in the coming year to permanently dismantle these illicit networks,” the officer said.

 

Notably, illegal mining has long been a contentious issue in Kashmir, posing a triple threat of ecological damage, safety hazards from destabilized riverbanks, and loss of government revenue.