Two days after Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi told district collectors to take stringent measures to curb smuggling of minor minerals, opposition BJD Thursday alleged that sand theft goes on under the patronage of the BJP government.

The allegation was made by BJD spokesperson Lenin Mohanty at a press conference here.

“At a recently held district collectors’ conference, the CM issued directions to stop sand theft, which means there is growth of minor mineral smuggling in the state,” Mohanty said.

While the BJD accused BJP leaders and ministers of being involved in sand theft, Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Bhakta Charan Das also alleged that a particular BJP-backed Independent MLA has been earning crores by indulging in sand smuggling.

The BJD leader said, “The s

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