Gariyaband (Chhattishgarh): The Chhattishgarh police busted an inter-State diamond smuggling gang with the arrest of two members, in Gariyaband on Wednesday.
The accused have been identified as Bikash and Jokhon, both residents of the Nuapara district in Odisha.
According to police, during the frisking of the passengers and search at the Chhattishgarh-Odisha border, 125 pieces of diamond worth Rs 20 lakh were recovered from their possession. A motorcycle has been seized from the accused.
Chhattishgarh police had earlier recovered 24 and 32 pieces of diamonds in two operations. The total diamonds worth Rs 26 lakh have been recovered in one month, sources said.
Speaking to media persons, Garyaband SP, Bhojram Patel said," The diamonds are being smuggled from the Pailkhand diamond mine. Odisha smugglers are believed to have a big hand in getting the illegal mining done. Offenders will not be spared. We have taken several measures to catch the smugglers, for which such kind of cases is coming to the fore."
The accused have been arrested and booked under Section 379 of the IPC, and Section 4 (21) of the Mining Act. Further investigation is underway. The Gariyband SP, Bhojram Patel, is constantly taking action against diamond smugglers, sources said.
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