The Mining Department on Sunday conducted a surprise raid at Barbil Railway siding in Keonjhar district and seized illegally mined minerals worth nearly Rs 1 crore.

Acting on a specific intelligence input about large-scale smuggling activities, a special enforcement team from the department swiftly carried out the operation to curb the illegal trade of minerals in the region.

During the raid, officials discovered huge quantities of illegally extracted materials stockpiled close to the railway siding, reportedly awaiting transportation to other destinations.

The minerals, believed to have been mined without valid permits or clearance, were found stored in a concealed area to evade inspection and taxation.

Preliminary findings suggest that the seized stock consisted of high-value iron or

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