BHUBANESWAR: The Commissionerate Police on Sunday arrested four persons allegedly involved in illegal quarrying of laterite stones at Kantia village under Jatni Police limits.
The accused were identified as Balaram Behera (26), Kartika Bhanja (32) and Dhusia Kandi (30) of Budhapada village and Nabina Bhanja (28) of Nimabasanta village in Jatni.
Four vehicles used in unauthorised excavation of laterite stones including a dumper, a power tiller and one tractor were seized by the police.
Acting on a tip-off, a raid was conducted in the area on Saturday night. Though the police were able to arrest the four labourers engaged in the illegal activity, eight others including the owner and drivers of the vehicles managed to flee.
A case has been registered in this connection at the Jatni Police Station under Sections 353 and 379 of Indian Penal Code and provisions under Mines and Minerals Act.
This is the second case of illegal quarrying registered within a month on the outskirts of the Capital.
On December 24 last year, the Commissionerate Police had arrested five persons for illegally excavating and transporting laterite stones and soil from Bhuasuni Mouza in Chandaka. Besides, three dumpers and two trucks were seized during the raid.