Lokayukta orders Vigilance probe following death of 2 persons at illegal quarry

Jajpur/Chadheidhara: Odisha Lokayukta today ordered for a probe to be carried out by state Vigilance department following the death of two persons on May 31 due to a mishap at an illegal stone mine in Lunibara on the backside of Chadheidhara outpost under Jenapur police limits of Jajpur district.

Taking the matter seriously, the Lokayukta initiated a case suo motu and issued the order. The Director of Vigilance in Cuttack Yeshwant Kumar Jethwa has been directed to submit his inquiry report in this regard within a maximum period of two months, an official source said.

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It is pertinent to mention, at least two persons including a child labourer died on the spot after an excavation machine with which they were engaged in illegal mining at the quarry fell from a height of about 50 feet on the intervening day when the prohibited activity was going on.

The two deceased were identified as driver of the excavation machine Santanu Khilar (28) and helper of the vehicle Apu Rout (17).

A local contractor had engaged Santanu and Apu without obtaining any permission from the authorities concerned. “We will take action against the wrongdoer,” Dharmasala tehsildar earlier said.