NOWSHERA: The personnel of district administration, police and the Mines and Minerals Department carried out a joint operation against the illegal placer gold mining in Nowshera district on Tuesday.
The operation was conducted under the supervision of District Police Officer Ahmad Shah where officials, including Sub-divisional Police Officer (SDPO), Akora Khattak Circle, Akhtar Nasir Khan, SDPO Nowshera Cantt Circle Hafeez Yousafzai, Pabbi Circle SDPO Muqaddam Khan and DSP Headquarters Qaisar Khan, participated along with a heavy police contingent.
Officials from the district administration and Mines and Minerals Department, including Assistant Director Mines Tanveer Khan, AC Headquarters Kamran Khan, ADC Relief Ejaz Akhtar, mineral inspectors, and mineral guards, also took part in the joint action.
According to authorities, around 780 police personnel, 40 officials from the Mines and Minerals Department and 68 officers and staff from the district administration, with support from 45 technical experts conducted the large-scale operation. Heavy machinery, including excavators, cranes, pickup vehicles, jeeps, cutters, and generators, was deployed during the operation.During the crackdown, 53 illegal placer gold mining plants were demolished while four excavators were rendered inoperable.
In addition, miners voluntarily removed 210 mining machines. Authorities also destroyed five heavy-duty and three small generators, demolished six permanent structures and seized two motorcycles.
A total of 9,500 litres of fuel was confiscated while 1,500 litres were disposed of. Seventeen accused were arrested and legal proceedings have been initiated against them.Meanwhile, the district administration and police decided to establish a permanent monitoring team in the Jabbi area to ensure continuous surveillance and the complete elimination of illegal mining activities.Officials reiterated that indiscriminate action against illegal mining would continue and that no one would be considered above the law.
