Orissa vigilance police on Wednesday opened files of 17 mine companies, mine owners, and mine traders with a view to file cases against them if found guilty. ?We have obtained permission from the state government to scan files of the 17 mine companies, mine owners and mine traders,? said state vigilance police director Anup Patnaik. Raids will be also conducted, he added.
The vigilance police have also moved the government to conduct raids on railway sidings where the mines mafia are illegally storing minerals. Patnaik said the state steel & mines department has moved the Indian Railways for action against illegal storage of minerals in railway sidings.
During the last five months the state vigilance police has filed 10 criminal cases involving Rs 640 crore against the mine companies and owners besides government officials.