Daijiworld Media Network – Beltangady (MS)

Beltangady, Sep 17: Officials from the Mines and Geology Department in Mangaluru have seized 48 tons of illegally stocked sand in Bandaru village in the taluk.

The village's gram panchayat and revenue officials alerted the Mines Department officials to the matter, leading to a case being filed at the Dharmasthala police station.

A man named Sandesh had been excavating sand from the Netravati River for the past two years and storing it in the Uruvalu area. Last year, the police and Mines Department officials conducted a raid at the location and confiscated goods worth Rs 30 lac. However, Sandesh resumed illegal sand mining. Villagers complained to the gram panchayat officials, who then notified the revenue officials.

A case has been filed at the Dharmasthala police station in connection with the matter. Locals claim that the Mines and Geology Department is ignoring their complaints and that the raid is merely a facade, with no case registered against Sandesh.