Jamshedpur: A Kanpur-based gem trader was arrested along with two others from Ghurabandha thana area of Ghatsila subdivision in the district for illegally trading in precious gems.

The gem trader identified as Vivek Kumar Gupta was arrested while he was striking a deal with a local emerald miner and an agent at a place in Ashti village, about seven kms away from the emerald mines.

The police have seized 170 grams of emerald while arresting the three, the other two being identified as Sanatan Shyamal and Mohammed Nizamuddin, residents of Ghurabandha and Mango respectively.

Police have also seized a car and a motorcycle from the Ashti village during the arrest.

The Ghurabandha thana OC, Prabhat Kumar said that they had got a tip off that two persons, including a gem trader from outside the state are likely to meet a local villager in connection with the precious stones dealing at Ashti village this morning.

"Acting on the information, we had swung into action and remained watchful at the Ashti village. This being a tribal-dominated village, we did not have to face much difficulty in tracing the outsiders who were found after a little wait. During the search, we found a stock of emeralds from the trio who were taken into custody immediately, " said Kumar to The Telegraph Online.

The OC said during interrogation, it was established that Sanatan would do the mining emerald illegally and would sell the precious stone to outside gem traders through the Mango-based agent, Nizamuddin on a regular basis.

The three were sent to Ghatsila Sub-jail after their production before a judicial magistrate in the afternoon.

The emerald mines which falls under the forest area is yet to be leased out for mining and does attract a large number of local villagers for illegal mining.

"We had taken necessary steps to stop the illegal mining of emerald with the help of the forest department and the police. But still some villagers do manage to collect the precious stone from the emerald deposit illegally. The process of leasing out the mines is on," said district mining officer, Mohammed Nadeem Shafi to The Telegraph Online.

(Kumud Jenamani)

Rs 2 lakh snatched from senior citizen

Dhanbad: Two unidentified bike borne criminals robbed cash worth Rs 2lakh from a retired BCCL employee on Monday at around 1 pm.

The incident took place at Luby Circular Road when, Satish Chandra, 62, was returning home at Lodna in Jharia after withdrawing cash from Koylanagar Branch of State Bank of India.

As soon as he reached near Luby Circular Road two unidentified youths who came on a bike from behind pushed him to the ground and fled after snatching the bag containing Rs 2 lakh cash. He later lodged an FIR in Dhanbad Sadar Police station.

(Praduman Choubey)

2 new CNG stations in Dhanbad

Dhanbad: Two new CNG stations, established with the help of GAIL Gas Limited, will be inaugurated on Tuesday, including one at Nirsa Service Station at Nirsa block and another at Gupta Petol Pump of Putki.

Sagar Saxena of GAIL Gas Limited said that GAIL Gas Limited has plans to establish altogether 15 CNG stations across the district and provide piped natural gas connections to 51,000 households.

(Praduman Choubey)