Budgam, April 17, April 18 -- Police in Budgam district have registered 23 FIRs and arrested 24 persons during a sustained crackdown on illegal mining activities in the first quarter of 2026, officials said. The enforcement drive, carried out across multiple police jurisdictions, also led to the seizure of 45 vehicles allegedly involved in the illegal extraction and transportation of minerals, reflecting an intensified effort to curb violations in the sector.The action forms part of a broader district-wide initiative aimed at addressing unauthorized mining practices that authorities say pose risks to natural resources and ecological stability.According to police, the seized vehicles include 17 tippers, 20 tractors, five JCB machines, two ...