The Supreme Court today ordered suspension of mining operations in 19 mine leases at Bellary area of Karnataka following reports of large-scale illegal mining in the region. Supreme Court-appointed Centrally Empowered Committee (CEC), in its two separate reports submitted to the apex court, had reported large-scale illegal mining of iron ore by mining mafia in the state. A special forest bench comprising Chief Justice S H Kapadia and Justices P Sathasivam and Aftab Alam passed the order on the basis of reports of CEC in which it has been stated that large-scale illegal mining was on in Karnataka particularly in Bellary district in connivance with officials and public representatives. The apex court had in February directed the CEC to conduct a probe over allegations of illegal mining in the state and submit a report within six weeks. The court's direction had come after a petition filed by an NGO had submitted that as per Karnataka Lokayukta report, mining activities were being carried not only illegally but also in the areas categorised as forest land.