Two Arrested for Alerting Illegal Miners in Gujarat
In Gujarat, two individuals were arrested for alerting illegal miners about government officials activities via a WhatsApp group.
Gandhinagar, October 30 (Daily Kiran) : Two individuals were arrested in Gujarat’s Bhavnagar district for operating a WhatsApp group that informed illegal miners about the movements of government officials. This practice allowed those involved in illegal mining to evade scrutiny from authorities.
According to officials, the arrests were made by the Bhavnagar Local Crime Branch (LCB) on October 29. Suspicion arose when the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) observed the duo monitoring officials near the old collectorate office.
The accused were managing a WhatsApp group named “Jai Ramadhani,” which included members engaged in the illegal extraction and transportation of minerals. They kept a close watch on the vehicles of the SDM and other officials, relaying information through audio messages in the group.
Police reported that the accused charged each group member ₹1,000 per month for providing updates on official activities. The SDM suspected that these individuals were aiding illegal miners by keeping them informed about government actions, leading him to alert the police.
An LCB team arrived at the scene and apprehended the suspects. During questioning, they reportedly confessed to managing the WhatsApp group and sharing sensitive information with its members.
The SDM, M.D. Parmar, filed a complaint at the Nilambag police station, prompting the registration of a case. The arrested individuals were identified as Bhagirat Singh Wala from Shivaji Circle and Rohit Rathod from Ruwa village on Airport Road. Authorities seized a motorcycle and a mobile phone from them.
This operation was conducted under the direction of senior officials, who had tasked the LCB with identifying those involved in illegal mining and those aiding them in avoiding government action.
