Mohan Kuthar

Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (MS)

Mangaluru, Nov 5: An informant on illegal sand mining, and member of the Someshwar temple management committee, was attacked with an iron rod late Monday night near the Someshwar municipality office. The assailant was reportedly an accused in the illegal sand mining case.

Despite a temporary halt in illegal sand excavation following protests, the movement of trucks carrying illegal sand has resumed, occurring in the early hours every night throughout Ullal taluk.

The victim, Kishore M Ucchila (53), a resident of Fisheries Road in Someshwar Ucchila and a committee member of the Someshwar temple, was assaulted by Sunil Poojary, an individual involved in illegal sand mining at Battappady.

Kishore was riding as a pillion passenger on his friend's scooter early Monday morning after having tea at a hotel in Someshwar. According to Kishore, Sunil intercepted him near the Someshwar municipality office, stating that Kishore's reports to the police made it difficult for him to continue his operations. Sunil then attacked Kishore on the shoulder and waist with an iron rod and attempted to stab him with a knife. However, Kishore’s friend, Pushparaj, quickly sped the scooter away, enabling Kishore to avoid serious injury.

A month ago, CCB police raided the illegal sand mining site at Ucchila Battampadi, seizing a large quantity of sand, with Sunil Poojary among those implicated. Kishore is currently receiving treatment at a private hospital in Mangaluru. A case has been registered against Sunil, who already has two cases filed at Ullal police station, making this his third.

The incident follows a similar attack on Catholic Sabha leader Alwyn D’Souza near Adyar just weeks ago. Although sand mining operations ceased temporarily after that incident, they have now resumed at full scale. Tipper trucks carrying sand are reported to travel at high speed after 11 pm on all major roads of Ullal taluk.