Early Times Report
Jammu, May 5: Controversy over mining mafia is likely to be intensified as District Mining Officer (DMO) Jammu has approached Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Jammu to lodge FIR against senior BJP leader and former MLC Vikram Randhawa.
Randhawa had leveled serious allegation of corruption against the DMO and charged him with hand-in-glove with mining-mafia in illegally extracting material from beds of the river Tawi.
Highly placed sources said that DMO has secretly leaked the written letter he has written to the SSP Jammu two days back. “The letter was leaked only after the Union Territory administration has constituted a high level panel for an in-depth examination of alleged illegal mining activities/operations of stone crusher units in and around river Tawi in violation Meanwhile Cong terms panel as eye-wash
The Congress has rejected the constitution of the officers Committee to enquire into the allegations of illegal mining and other related issues disclosed by a former legislator and senior BJP leader two days ago along with the other stone crushers representatives leveling serious allegations of Hafta culture and illegal mining leading to a huge loss to the public exchequer.
The issue is of very big magnitude allegedly involving the very high profile political and bureaucratic bosses and in such a situation, any such inquiry can't do justice with the issue of great public concern and can't be acceptable. The truth must be known to the public which is not possible without the completely independent probe which is possible only after those named at the helm of affairs are removed, so that they are not able to influence the probe.
Number 5 terms and references of the order No 14-MNG-2021, dated 04-05-2021 is an indication that the government has taken very serious note of Randhawa’s allegation. The panel was asked to examine the allegations made and representation received about the high-handedness of the department.
Sources said that letter was leaked by ‘well-wishers’ of DMO to give an impression that he was not under pressure after startling revelation by Vikram Randhawa. “Authorities are trying to mount pressure on some owners of the stone crushers to give statements against Randhawa but to no avail”, sources said and added that DMO has written the letter fearing this Randhawa has some convincing proofs.
Ironically DMO- in his letter, asked the SSP to provide him PSO due to danger to his life. | 