Panaji, Jun 3 (IANS): Press photography in Goa's hinterland pockmarked by open cast iron ore mines is fraught with risk due to the illegal mining mafia, according to the head of a local press photographers association.

Speaking to reporters at a press conference here, Rajtilak Naik, who heads the Photo-Journalists Association of Goa (PJAG), said that clicking photos in the environmentally sensitive Western Ghats, which are riddled with scores of illegal mining operations, was a dangerous affair, thanks to the writ of the illegal mining mafia.

"It's a huge risk. The mining corridor is almost like a mafia. Taking photos of illegal mining is very, very hazardous here," said Naik, while announcing a state level environment photography competition on the occasion of World Environment Day on June 5.

He cited the case of local journalist Gary Azevedo who was kidnapped by bouncers employed by mining firms at Cavrem, 60 kms from here, when he was taking photograghs of an illegal mine May 3.

Over the last few years, several journalists, including CNN-IBN's Bahar Dutt and Prerana Bindra, an environmental journalist formerly employed with the national weekly Tehelka, were detained by armed mining lease guards while they were photographing illegal mining in Goa's hinterland.

Government data pegs the state's illegal mining industry at Rs.4,000 crore.

Leader of Opposition Manohar Parrikar has said that nearly 18 percent of Goa's total 45 million mining output comprises of illegally mined ore.