The Puthia upazila administration conducted an overnight operation against the illegal cutting of fertile topsoil from cropland in Kaiharia, Shilmaria and Baropakhia areas of Rajshahi. The operation ran from 10pm Sunday until 1:10am Monday. Officials detained two people allegedly involved and handed them to police custody for further legal action.

During the operation, authorities found two excavators being used to cut soil at two separate locations. As transport was not available, both machines were rendered completely inoperable on site. Four batteries were seized from the locations and two additional batteries were destroyed.

The drive followed allegations that topsoil was being removed from various agricultural fields under cover of darkness, reducing land fertility and damaging its natural structure. Puthia Assistant Commissioner (Land) and Executive Magistrate Shibu Das led the operation. The administration said such operations would continue and that legal action would be taken against people involved in illegal soil cutting from cropland.