Pics: Savitha B R
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (PS/SB)

Mangalore, April 5: In a joint operation with mining, revenue and RTO department inspectors and officials, police commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh, deputy commissioner Subodh Yadav and assistant commissioner Prabhulinga Kavalikatte assisted by the police and geology department officers carried out a swing raid on illegal sand mining centres at Harekala, Pavoor in Konaje police station limit on Tuesday April 5 following complaints of illegal sand mining in the area.

The operation was conducted at around 12.00 in the afternoon. In all nine which were loaded with sands moving from the spot was stopped by the police and mining department officials and was seized on the road. The lorries are in possession of Konaje Police. Konaje sub-inspector S F Lohar also took part in the operation.

Later speaking to presspersons DC Subodh Yadav said that FIR will be registered on all violators. He observed that none of the seized vehicles were installed with GPS which is a must and some of them even did not diaplay number plates. He added that the platform which has been temporarily constructed to let lorry move till the riverside will be demolished, thus giving break to illegal sand mining.

Incidentally the people engaged in sand mining as well as the several other lorries which were meant for transporting sands were parked, thus leading to a speculation that prior information had reached illegal sand lifters before the raid. The other side of the river (Adyar riverside), sand mining was being undertaken fearlessly despite presence of offices of various departments.

Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh said that more details will be collected through the phones which have been seized from the lorry drivers and humps will be erected in all the curves in order to stop lorry moving from the areas. He said that the kingpin behind the illegal act will be arrested under provision of Goonda act.