Chandigarh, Oct. 24 -- Punjab's Mining Department has arrested one person and seized an excavator and a tipper truck in a late-night raid targeting suspected illegal mineral extraction at Bhallan village in Nangal tehsil of Sri Anandpur Sahib, Mines and Geology Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal said today.

The operation was conducted in the intervening night of October 23 and 24 following information about suspected unauthorised mining involving heavy machinery.

Department officials seized a Poklain excavator and a tipper allegedly being used to extract and transport minerals without the required authorisation.

A case has been registered under Sections 4(1) and 21(1) of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, officials...