India, May 23 -- Rajasthan Police has intensified its crackdown against the illegal sand mining mafia in the National Chambal Gharial Sanctuary area, registering 392 criminal cases in Dholpur and Karauli districts between January 2025 and April 2026 under its zero-tolerance campaign against illegal mining, storage and transportation of sand. Officials said the action has been underway under a "zero tolerance" policy since the beginning of 2025 on the directions of director general of police Rajeev Kumar Sharma. The campaign gathered further momentum after directions issued by the Supreme Court of India on April 17, 2026, in a suo motu civil writ petition concerning illegal mining activities in the Chambal region. Additional director general of police (law and order) VK Singh said the Crime Branch at Police Headquarters has been closely monitoring operations being jointly carried out by police teams in Dholpur and Karauli in the Chambal river belt. According to police data, 392 criminal cases related to illegal sand mining and transportation were registered between January 2025 and April 2026. Of these, charge sheets have already been filed in 342 cases, while investigations in the remaining cases are continuing. Police said they have adopted a tougher strategy against the organised sand mafia by targeting not only vehicle drivers but also registered vehicle owners. Out of the total cases, 195 involved action against both drivers and vehicle owners engaged in illegal transportation. Investigations also revealed that 70 repeat offenders arrested since 2024 were habitual offenders involved in the illegal sand trade multiple times. Dholpur police carried out the highest number of actions in the Chambal sanctuary region. According to Dholpur SP Vikas Sangwan, the district police registered 353 criminal cases between January 2025 and April 2026 in connection with illegal mining and transportation from the Chambal river. Of these, 250 cases were registered in 2025 and another 103 till April 2026. Police have already filed charge sheets in 306 cases, including 236 from 2025 and 70 from 2026. Only 11 cases were closed with final reports, while 36 remain under investigation. Police also identified 68 repeat offenders in Dholpur over the last three years. In 187 cases, both tractor drivers and vehicle owners were arrested as part of the crackdown on organised smuggling networks. To economically weaken the sand mafia, Dholpur police invoked stringent provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including Section 112(2) related to organised crime, in 37 serious cases....