Daijiworld Media Network - Bantwal

Bantwal, Sep 26: The Rural police here raided a site at Kelagina Thumbe in Thumbe village on Friday following allegations of illegal sand mining from the riverbank and loading it into lorries.

Acting on credible information received by Bantwal Rural police station sub-inspector Rannagowda Patil, police visited the spot along with their staff and found three tipper lorries and an excavator being used to illegally load sand, police said.

During the raid, police seized three tipper lorries loaded with sand and an excavator, along with vehicles and materials worth approximately Rs 25.24 lac, around two loads of sand and other materials used for loading the sand. Four persons who were present at the spot were taken into custody during the raid.

During questioning, the accused reportedly told police that they were collecting sand from the riverbank without obtaining any permission, loading it into lorries and transporting it, police said.

A case has been registered at Bantwal Rural police station under Crime No. 129/2026 against Nihaan, Rajesh, Shamsheer, Ashraf, Steven D'Souza, Shivaprasad Alva, who allegedly assisted in the offence, and others.