Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Jul 7: Villagers of Harekal, frustrated by the continuance of illegal sand mining and transportation activity in spite of ban placed on them, duly supported by leaders of Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), jumped into action late night on Sunday July 5 and blocked sand trucks, dredging machine, and bulldozer. The villagers said that illegal sand transportation to Kerala from their village has been going on uninterrupted in spite of ban.

There are allegations that the police personnel on patrol duty have not been stopping sand trucks. After coming to know that dredging machine, bulldozer, and four tipper trucks had arrived near Harekal estuary at around 12 am on Sunday night, villagers rushed there and stopped the machinery.

When verbal frictions between the two sides threatened to go out of control, villagers called the Konaje police station as well as government officials. Reportedly, sub-inspector of Konaje station, who arrived at the spot along with some personnel, tried to intimidate the people who had stopped these machines and vehicles. DYFI leaders then got engaged with verbal duel with the sub-inspector.

As the villagers remained firm on not bending under pressure, the tippers were taken to police station. On Monday, the villagers conveyed information about the happenings to the deputy commissioner of the district. Consequently, it is gathered that tahsildar of the taluk visited Harekal on Monday and confiscated the dredging machine. The police however, have expressed reluctance to provide any information.