Bhubaneswar, Nov. 13 -- Odisha Mines Department seized an excavator and two dumper trucks during a raid in the Raikia area of Kandhamal district on Friday. The raid was conducted following allegations of illegal morram extraction by a private contracting firm.

The raid was reportedly conducted by District Mining Officer Arpit Kumar Barik after local residents raised complaints that the contractor was extracting morram from a hill without the required permission. The material was allegedly being used for road construction work.

During the inspection, the mining team found a chain-mounted excavator and two Hyva dumper trucks allegedly involved in the excavation.

"We received information this morning that illegal excavation was being carr...