Police have detained three people in possession of precious stones from Machakot-7 in Jajarkot district.

Jagat Bahadur Shahi of Garkhakot-2, Bal Krishna Shahi of Kortang-2 and Hari Bahadur Shahi of Kortang-3 were held while they were on their way to Dailekh from Machkot area and seized 140 kilograms of unrefined Kyanite and 125 kilograms of Tourmaline stones being ferried using mules.

Police said smuggling of the precious stones was on the rise in the district and that they seized 35 kilograms of Kyanite stones from Man Bahadur Shahi, Ashok Singh and Surendra Singh in the past couple of months.

These precious stones are found in areas villages as Aarchani, Talegaun, Pajaru, Paink, Daha, Kortang and Garkhakot. Bal Krishna, who is now in police custody, said they sold the precious stones for around Rs 30,000 per kilograms. “These stones are available for around Rs 1,500 per kilograms locally,” he said. It is learnt that 10 tonnes of the precious stones has been smuggled form Talegaun, Aarchani, Daha and Kortang VDCs alone. Deputy Superintendent of Police Dan Bahadur Malla said they arrested some agents and porters from the bordering area of Dailekh. “We have seized the precious stones worth Rs 1 million,” Malla said.

Police said the agents, porters and the seized stones will be sent to the Department of Mines and Geology for necessary investigations and legal actions.