Tractor owners in Himachal Pradesh’s Nurpur police district have received a measure of relief following an amendment to state police guidelines regarding illegal mining activities. Under the revised directive, tractors found involved in illegal mining will now be issued challans and subject to compounding rather than immediate impoundment by the police.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that this change supersedes a previous order issued on June 17, 2025, which mandated the impounding of tractor-trailers engaged in illegal mining. These vehicles were often held at police stations or chowkis for extended periods, necessitating court orders for their release. This practice had generated considerable resentment among vehicle owners across the Nurpur, Jawali, Fatehpur, and Indora subdivisions of the state.
The amended guidelines, formalized in an office order dated April 16, clarify that tractors and mules involved in illegal mining will face challans in accordance with legal provisions and existing government directives. Henceforth, police will not impound tractor-trailers. However, the order specifies that stringent action will continue against heavy machinery such as JCBs, tipper trucks, and excavators engaged in such activities.
The updated office order has been disseminated to all Superintendents of Police across Himachal Pradesh. This revised approach follows protest demonstrations organized by tractor owners under the Shiv Shakti Tractors’ Union, Nurpur, last month. The union had raised concerns over hefty penalties and the repeated impounding of vehicles, which they argued severely impacted the livelihoods of small farmers.
The agitation, which saw participation from former minister Rakesh Pathania, brought to light the difficulties faced by individuals who rely on manual mineral extraction from local rivulets to support their families. The state government acknowledged these grievances during a Vidhan Sabha session on March 31. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu had assured the House that the concerns of tractor owners would be addressed and that a comprehensive mining policy would be formulated to prevent exploitation and reduce police harassment.
Gulbant Singh, president of the Shiv Shakti Tractors’ Union, Nurpur, welcomed the revised order, describing it as a partial relief for thousands of tractor owners. He urged the government to expedite the development of the promised comprehensive mining policy. Singh emphasized that numerous unemployed tractor owners depend on mineral extraction for their sustenance and called for the establishment of a legal and transparent framework to enable them to operate without the constant threat of harassment.
Nurpur Superintendent of Police Kulbhushan Verma confirmed receipt of the revised order concerning the challaning of tractor-trailers. He stated that the police department would act in accordance with the new directives.
The Chenab Times News Desk