JAIPUR/ALWAR: After being pulled up by the Rajasthan High Court for failing to curb illegal mining, the Alwar police kicked off a campaign against the menace in Tapukada and Behror area late on Wednesday night. The authorities seized a large number of mining equipment and cordoned off a huge area where the illegal activities are being carried out. During the last fortnight, more than 20 people had lost their lives in separate accidents at mining sites in the districts of Alwar, Bharatpur and Jaipur. On Wednesday evening, at least six companies of Rajasthan police in Alwar district scanned the area in and around Tapukada and Behror and started massive seizures of mining equipment. Similar raids are being conducted at Karauli and Dholpur districts. "We have seized six JCM machines, 40 dumpers, two drilling machines, two power generators and other equipment," said Umesh Chand Dutta, superintendent of police, Alwar, who is leading the campaign with strength of around 600 policemen. Police started raids at these illegal mining areas in the evening when there are less number of workers. Dutta, accompanied with the district collector Ashutosh AT, further said, "The campaign will continue throughout the night. We have identified at least 36 people who would be interrogated and we will arrest them after ascertaining their role in the illegal mining activities." The campaign is going peacefully and so far there is no instance of mining mafia coming into confrontation with the police, Dutta added. Earlier in the day, Saurabh Srivastav, inspector general of police, Jaipur range, talking to TOI, said, "I have asked the concerned SPs in the districts such as Jaipur (Rural), Alwar, Dausa, Jhunjhunu and Sikar to identify the illegal mining practices in their areas and start campaign against them with a proper force." Box - A tractor trolley carrying stones overturned at a mining area situated at Samod village of Jaipur district. The driver of the tractor managed to save himself as he jumped off the vehicle before it was trapped under the debris. Soon after the incident, senior police officers of Jaipur (Rural), sub-divisional magistrate(SDM), Chomu and officers of mines department rushed to the spot. Denying the reports that the mining was illegal, Narendra Singh Shaktawat, mines engineer, said, "It is a case of legal mining. The lease is in the name of one Murari Lal Meena." Police are yet to register any case in this connection. "The mining team found that the miner was complying with the safety norms. The driver of tractor trolley while driving back lost his control over the wheels and thus turned turtle."