Jalpaiguri district police seized three dump trucks carrying sand extracted from the Teesta river on Friday.

The trucks, police sources said, bear stickers saying the sand collected would be used in building the permanent infrastructure of the circuit bench of Calcutta High Court.

According to sources, police had information that a section of the sand mafia was using such stickers to dupe police and the land and land reforms department.

“There are reports that some people are illegally extracting minor minerals like sand, stones and pebbles without paying royalty to the state government. They are also using stickers while transporting such items. That is why the trucks were seized. Our officers are verifying the documents and trying to find out if the trucks can run with such stickers,” said a senior police officer.

Sources in the Jalpaiguri district administration said that a few days back, a private agency that took a part of the Teesta river on lease near Balapara on the outskirts of Jalpaiguri town, had put up a signboard that the stones and sand were being extracted after permission of the district land and land reforms officer.

“We objected to it and the agency took down the signboard. Across the district, we are keeping a close watch to prevent illegal extraction of minor minerals,” said an official.