In 2020, CJM report exposed illegal checkposts in Ropar set up by mining mafia to collect 'goonda tax'

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 26

Under the political and bureaucratic patronage reportedly during the previous Congress government, the mining mafia ensured that no truck operator carrying the material could pass without paying ‘goonda tax’ (royalty) at illegal checkposts set up around the sites in Ropar.

After the then government denied the existence of unlawful checkpoints or barriers near some mining sites in Ropar, a report submitted by Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Harsimranjit Singh in 2020 pointed out the setting up of illegal nakas for collecting the ‘goonda tax’.

A five-member panel formed by the then DC had said there were no illegal barriers near the mining sites. The report submitted by the state during a hearing of a plea on illegal mining was found to be at variance with the one sought by the High Court from the CJM.

After being pulled by the HC, the state in 2021 registered three FIRs against persons, but nothing happened thereafter.

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