News: Mounesh Vishwakarma
Pics: Kishore Peraje

Daijiworld Media Network –Bantwal(EP)

Bantwal, Oct 26: A sand mining worker jumped in the Falguni river at Mullarapatna on Wednesday, October 26 to escape from police raid and died due to drowning.

The deceased worker has been identified as Sharif (30) from Muthooru Margadangadi.

Meanwhile locals blamed the police for his death causing a tense atmosphere. District superintendent of police (SP) Bhushan G Borase and other police officials have camped in the place to avoid any unpleasant situations. More police personnel have been called from various places in the district as a precautionary measure.

Illegal sand mining has been reported in Mullarupatna Falguni river for sometimes. Rural police under the guidance of DySP Ravish had conducted the raid. Workers who were employed in the unit got scared and started running. Sharif jumped in the river but died as he did not know swimming. Fire brigade staff rushed and conducted search in boat. Local swimmer Mohammed located the dead body and brought it to the shore with the help of fire brigade.

Locals allegedly hEld police responsible for his death. They said that Sharif was not a worker but had gone to see sand mining. The police had conducted the raid without the presence of geology department officials. Police said that an agitated group pelted stones on their Jeep.

The angry locals did not allow the dead body to be taken in the ambulance for post-mortem. They said that they will not allow the police to touch the dead body without the arrival of deputy commissioner (DC). They prevented police from taking pictures and shouted slogans against the police.

SP Bhushan G Borase, additional SP Vedamurthi, Bantwal CI Manjayya and police officials who arrived from various places were present.

The tense situation continued in Bantwal government hospital where the body was brought for post-mortem later. It was conducted in between tight police security.