Bhubaneswar, April 03: Tightening noose around those allegedly involved in the multi-crore mining scam, the Orissa Police today arrested 48 people of as many private companies on the charge of smuggling iron ore worth Rs 54.40 crore.
“Those arrested belong to 48 companies engaged in transportation, loading of minerals and mining activities,” Keonjhar SP Asish Kumar Singh told PTI adding they were held on charges of smuggling minerals through trains.
Stating that the district police had last month arrested 28 people allegedly involved in illegal mining activities, he said that 82 others were also nabbed in petty mineral smuggling cases.
During the last 60 days, a total of 158 people were arrested in connection with the mining scam, the SP said.
The police made the arrests while investigating into the smuggling of about 3,60,000 MT of iron ore from Keonjhar district in a span of 22 days beginning January 1.
–Agencies