PRAYAGRAJ, July 12 -- In a crackdown against illegal sand mining, the district administration on Saturday seized 10,536 cubic metres of illegally stocked sand during a special enforcement drive launched under the directions of district magistrate Manish Kumar Verma. A joint team comprising officials from the revenue, mining and police departments conducted surprise inspections in several revenue villages situated along the Yamuna in Bara tehsil. During the operation, authorities detected and seized large quantities of illegally stored ordinary sand at multiple locations. According to officials, Kanjasa Uparhar recorded the highest number of illegal stockpiles, with 13 identified during the drive. This was followed by six stockpiles in Naudhiya Uparhar, four in Kainua and three in Majhiyari. The entire stock of 10,536 cubic metres of sand was seized on the spot. The confiscated sand has been placed under the custody of the Ghoorpur and Lalapur police stations until further orders are issued by the district magistrate and the competent court. Officials said strict legal action is being initiated against those involved in illegal mining activities, including members of the mining mafia and the landowners on whose properties the sand was illegally stored. The mining department has submitted formal complaints to the Ghoorpur and Lalapur police stations, seeking registration of FIRs against all accused. Senior mining officer KK Rai said the enforcement drive was carried out in the presence of Naib Tehsildar Vijay Kumar, mining inspector Vaibhav Soni, surveyor Ved Prakash Shukla, Lalapur station house officer Anubhav Singh, and Ghoorpur sub-inspector Amit Yadav, among other officials....