JAIPUR/ALWAR: A group of about 100 illegal miners opened fire and pelted stones at a police team in Alwar's Nakhnol area on Friday in a sheer disregard for law and the law keepers. The incident happened when a police team had swopped down on an area known as Loharon Ki Dhani after getting a tip-off about illegal mining there. The police were, however, not bogged down by their threat and managed to arrest three men, including an explosive expert, after giving them a chase for almost 15 km. Police later said the personnel had a narrow escape when they were fired upon. The local police were on high alert after the death of five labourers in an illegal mine in Alwar's Bhiwadi area last week. Alwar SP Umesh Dutta told TOI that a combing operation had been launched against illegal mines in the area. "Following a tip-off that illegal mining is being carried out at Loharon Ki Dhani, a police team from Tapukara police station went to the area. Over 100 people standing behind women and using them as a shield started pelting stones on team as soon as it arrived there," Dutta said. The team then backed off and camped at a safe distance from the place. But the illegal miners continued hurling stones. When they realized that the stones were not in any way going to stop the police, they opened fire, the SP said. He said at least five rounds of bullets were fired by the illegal miners forcing the police to retaliate. "When we fired two rounds, they started to disperse. The team then chased the miners and managed to nab three of them," the officer said. The arrested persons have been identified as Qareemun, Nijjar Mohammad and Ishab. "The startling fact is that all the three arrested persons are from outside the state. While Qareemun is from Bihar, the other two are from Nuh and Palwal areas of Haryana," Dutta said. He said this information will help police nail down illegal mining in the area as it clearly suggests that most of those involved in the illegal practice are from outside Rajasthan. "We are planning to take several steps to keep a watch on inter-state rackets involved in illegal mining," Dutta said. There is a complete ban imposed by the Supreme Court on mining in the Aravali Hills in the area. At least five labourers were buried alive when a part of an illegal mine caved in Bhiwdi area of the district. Chief minister Ashok Gehlot had called a meeting of senior officials and cabinet ministers after the incident and asked them to curb mining in the area.