Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Mar 20: Within a few days of the Dakshina Kannada district deputy commissioner, V Ponnuraj, facing threat by the sand mining and transportation mafia, comes the news that he has also received a threat call from the Chinese embassy for remaining adamant on the issue of the sunken ship, Asian Forest. Strangely, in both the cases, he was threatened for discharging his duties earnestly.

It may be recalled that a couple of months ago, the sand mafia had chased and beaten up the employees of a television channel for trying to shoot their illegal activity. The deputy commissioner, while moving through Ukkuda near Vittal on Thursday, had stopped a truck that was transporting sand. When questioned, the driver of the truck in question had remained stubborn and audacious, although he did not have any papers.  The deputy commissioner, who has cancelled the driving licence of the driver, in addition to filing a case against him for obstructing a government servant from discharging his duties, is determined to deal with the sand mafia with an iron hand.

The deputy commissioner has been insistent that the Chinese ship, ‘Asian Forest’, which had sunken off the local shores, and which has been posing the threat of environment pollution and endangering the ships moving on this line, should be removed by the owners of the ship. After the oil in the ship was removed because of his continued insistence, all the crew members of the ship except its captain and chief engineer, who are housed in a hotel here, have been released.

Reportedly, an officer in the Chinese embassy called up Ponnuraj and demanded for the release of the above two officers too.  Ponnuraj took the stand that they would be released once the hazardous ship is taken out of the sea bed. After the exchange of a few words, the officer is said to have threatened the deputy commissioner that in retaliation, Ponnuraj might be arrested by the Chinese authorities whenever he visits China or Hong Kong any time later. The deputy commissioner, who remained unperturbed, said that the caller is free to do what he wants to, but reiterated his earlier stand on the ship.

The deputy commissioner admitted that he was warned by the caller from the Chinese embassy. He however, hastened to add that no life threat had been posed to him.