Srinagar, Aug 06 (KNO): Authorities in Jammu and Kashmir carried out 9,417 seizures, registered 285 FIRs and recovered over Rs 20 crore in penalties during the financial year 2025–26 as part of an intensified crackdown on illegal mining.
Data accessed by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) reveals that penalties amounting to Rs 20.009 crore were recovered across the Union Territory, while enforcement agencies seized 9,417 vehicles and machinery involved in illegal mining and lodged 285 FIRs against violators.
According to the data, Kathua recorded the highest number of seizures at 1,019, followed by Kupwara (972), Baramulla (845), Samba (800), Jammu (679) and Budgam (671).
The data further reveals that Budgam registered the highest number of FIRs at 62, followed by Kupwara (48), Baramulla (41), Ganderbal (30), Srinagar (29) and Bandipora (25). Jammu recorded 15 FIRs, Pulwama 14, Anantnag nine, Kulgam eight, Shopian two, while Kathua and Doda registered one FIR each. No FIRs were registered in Samba, Poonch, Rajouri, Udhampur, Ramban, Kishtwar and Reasi during the period.
In terms of penalty recovery, Kathua topped the list with Rs 3.308 crore, followed by Jammu (Rs 2.248 crore), Pulwama (Rs 2.008 crore), Baramulla (Rs 1.618 crore), Kupwara (Rs 1.499 crore) and Budgam (Rs 1.297 crore), the data says.
Among the remaining districts, Samba recovered Rs 1.182 crore, Anantnag Rs 1.01 crore, Kulgam Rs 0.949 crore, Bandipora Rs 0.683 crore, Reasi Rs 0.650 crore, Poonch Rs 0.592 crore, Rajouri Rs 0.565 crore, Ganderbal Rs 0.526 crore, Srinagar Rs 0.491 crore, Udhampur Rs 0.425 crore, Shopian Rs 0.424 crore, Doda Rs 0.280 crore, Kishtwar Rs 0.202 crore and Ramban Rs 0.053 crore.
The figures reflect sustained enforcement against illegal extraction and transportation of minerals across Jammu and Kashmir, with Kathua recording the highest number of seizures and Budgam registering the highest number of FIRs during FY 2025–26—(KNO)