# Bihar proposes 1,000 constables to fight illegal mining 2026-08-06T14:56:42+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 2 independent outlets Bihar’s Mines and Geology Department has proposed recruiting 1,000 Khana Sipahis, or constables, to target illegal mining, mineral transport and storage. Mines Minister Pramod Kumar said the dedicated force would allow independent raids and reduce the mining department’s reliance on local police. Recruitment will be conducted through the appropriate commission, while eligibility rules, training and other details are being finalised. The department conducted 16,861 raids up to July in 2026-27, resulting in 278 arrests, 2,497 vehicle seizures and Rs 32.64 crore in penalties, Kumar said. Revenue collection during the first four months stood at Rs 790.23 crore, against Rs 590.12 crore in the same period of 2025-26. The department has set a Rs 5,000 crore target for the year. ## Coverage - newindianexpress.com - thehindu.com Tags: Bihar, illegal mining, law enforcement, mines department, revenue Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/bihar-to-recruit-1000-constables-to-fight-illegal-mining/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/bihar-to-recruit-1000-constables-to-fight-illegal-mining/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.