Pulwama Police on Friday, 23 October 2026, seized 23 dumpers/tippers and one L&T excavator during a pre-dawn operation targeting illegal mineral extraction across the Rohmu belt in Pulwama district, Jammu & Kashmir. The crackdown, conducted on the directions of the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Pulwama, is the latest in a series of enforcement actions as J&K battles a deeply entrenched illegal mining network.

How the Operation Unfolded

A police team led by the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) Headquarters, Pulwama, conducted early-morning raids at multiple locations across the Rohmu belt. The team intercepted illegal soil extraction at Gusoo, Pulwama, where the 23 dumpers/tippers and the L&T excavator were seized from the spot, according to a police statement.

Preliminary findings indicate that the extraction activity was being carried out in violation of the prescribed terms and conditions of the permit. An FIR has been registered at Police Station Pulwama under relevant provisions of law, and a formal investigation is under way to establish accountability.

The Scale of J&K's Illegal Mining Crisis

Friday's seizure is a snapshot of a much larger governance failure. Illegal mining in J&K — driven by an infrastructure boom and high demand for sand, gravel, boulders, and soil — has spawned well-entrenched networks that operate largely unchecked across water bodies including the Jhelum River.

Official data from the 2025–26 fiscal year lays bare a striking enforcement gap: authorities recorded 9,417 seizures and recovered ₹20.009 crore in penalties, yet registered only 285 FIRs. The disparity is starkest in Kathua, which reported 1,019 seizures but just one FIR, and Samba, which logged 800 seizures without a single FIR. By contrast, Kupwara filed 48 FIRs from 972 seizures, and Baramulla registered 41 FIRs from 845 seizures — indicating more proactive legal follow-through in those districts.

Regulatory Tightening in 2026

Faced with escalating criticism over the enforcement gap, the J&K administration moved to tighten the regulatory framework in October 2026, formally empowering Mining Department officers to file direct complaints against illegal miners to expedite prosecution.

Senior officials found complicit or negligent have faced immediate suspension and administrative action. The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has registered criminal FIRs targeting collusive relationships between mining syndicates and government officials. The Department of Geology & Mining has also strictly banned the deployment of heavy earth-moving machinery — including JCBs and excavators — in unauthorised zones, and made a mandatory Royalty Clearance Certificate (RCC) a prerequisite for public works contractors.

What Pulwama Police Said

In its statement, Pulwama Police reiterated its 'firm commitment to eradicating illegal mining and ensuring strict enforcement of the law,' urging the public to report any instances of illegal extraction to help protect the environment and preserve public resources. Police divisions across Pulwama, Budgam, and Awantipora reportedly conduct such early-morning intercept raids routinely, seizing dozens of vehicles and excavators weekly.

Whether the latest crackdown translates into sustained criminal accountability — or remains another seizure statistic without a corresponding FIR — will be the key test of the administration's stated resolve.