Bhubaneswar, Nov. 26 -- A high-level joint enforcement team conducted a late-night raid on the Kilipal sand ghat of the Mahanadi river in Jagatsinghpur district. The team seized over 40 sand-laden heavy vehicles allegedly involved in illegal mining and transportation.

The operation, carried out past this midnight, was led by the Central Range DIG along with the Jagatsinghpur Collector, the District Superintendent of Police (SP) and other senior officials.

Sources reported that the raid was launched following credible reports of large-scale sand smuggling from the Kilipal ghat in violation of extraction limits set by the government. Officials said that trucks and tractors were allegedly being loaded with volumes far above the permitted l...