How mining mafias pose a threat to national security at Indo-Pak border | Ground report
India Today
The BSF and Indian Army have warned the government about the danger being posed to the national security by the mining mafias.
The recent flash floods wreaked havoc in the border districts of Punjab which shares a 425 km long international border with Pakistan. While the 117-year-old railway bridge connecting Punjab and neighbouring Himachal Pradesh was washed away, the floods also partially damaged the Chakki road bridge which has been declared unsafe for heavy vehicles moving between Punjab and Himachal Pradesh.
The flash floods have been attributed to the illegal , unscientific and unchecked mining at the river beds being done by the mafias. The extent of damage is not limited to the bridges and roads, but has also threatened the villages, army bunkers, posts and other establishments.
The mining mafia, according to the Indian Army and BSF has become another threat to the national security besides the Khalistani terrorists and gangsters.
The Indian Army and BSF which guards the India-Pakistan border have submitted an affidavit before the Punjab and Haryana High Court, claiming that the illegal mining, patronised by local politicians and corrupt officials, has jeopardised national security at many places.
A reality check done by India Today television revealed that the illegal mining while at one hand had caused irreparable loss to the ecology besides the wildlife, also confirmed the fears expressed by the security agencies.
Indian Army and BSF affidavits say that the gorges, trenches, and pits dug up by the mining mafias are posing a danger to the bunkers besides other army establishments. The open wounds left by the mining, according to the officials, can help the anti-social elements besides the enemy.
