JAMMU, Feb. 28 -- In a decisive move to protect the region's environment and combat corruption, the Anti-Corruption Bureau, launched sweeping joint surprise checks targeting illegal mining operations across Udhampur and Reasi districts, said officials. The operation was initiated following serious complaints of widespread illegal mineral extraction across the Jammu division, said an official spokesperson. Preliminary reports indicated a suspected nexus between mineral bidders and certain officials within the mining and ecological departments, allowing these activities to operate unchecked, he added. To immediately halt the illegal extraction and misuse of natural resources, specialized ACB teams-spearheaded by gazetted officers-executed coordinated, surprise inspections at multiple stone crushing facilities throughout both districts, he said. ACB sleuths conducted extensive searches, confiscating crucial electronic gadgets, critical records, and highly incriminating documents. "Multiple allegedly forged 'Form-A' transit documents were recovered directly from the operational sites," he added. "All inspected stone crushers were found to be actively indulging in illegal mining. Facilities were operating in grave violation of their mandated terms and conditions, causing irreversible ecological degradation to the region," he said....