Illegal sand extraction: police seek information from officials

Racketeers had allegedly attempted to kill a DySP in Arakere

People extracting sand from Hemavathi River near K.R. Pet taluk in Mandya district. File Photo

The Police Department has issued notice to senior officials of several departments asking them to provide information on issues pertaining to illegal sand extraction activities in the district.

Sand extraction from riverbanks of the Cauvery and its tributaries in the district – Shimsha, Hemavathi, Lokapavani and Veera Vaishnavi – is on the rise, despite a ban imposed by the district administration in force. The racketeers had allegedly attempted to kill Nagamangala Deputy Superintendent of Police Savitha Hugar on August 29 at Arakere in Nagamangala taluk, when she tried to stop a lorry suspected to be illegally transporting sand.

Following the incident, Mandya Superintendent of Police Bhushan Gulabrao Borase ordered an independent inquiry.

Additional Superintendent of Police M. Puttamadiah, who was instructed by Mr. Borase to probe and submit a report, has issued notice to officials of Revenue, Forest, Police, and Mines and Geology departments.

“We have asked tahsildars and officers of other departments to furnish details about their roles and responsibilities in curbing illegal sand extraction from the riverbanks of Cauvery and other rivers,” Mr. Puttamadaiah said.

The department will probe the measures initiated to prevent illegal sand extraction, and their success in curbing it. If needed, the department will probe the role of the regional transport office (RTO) in connection with the issue, the officer said. Mr. Puttamadaiah added that he will probe the incident and submit a report to the SP within the next two weeks. Mr. Borase, SP, said he would submit a report to Deputy Commissioner M.N. Ajay Nagabhushan once he received the report from Mr. Puttamadaiah. The Additional SP will investigate the role of officials in the issue, he told

The Hindu .

The department may suggest the district administration to initiate measures to curb sand extraction in its proposed report.

According to the sources in the department, the police would suggest that the district administration book those indulging in sand extraction under the Karnataka Prevention of Dangerous Activities of Bootleggers, Drug Offenders, Gamblers, Goondas, Immoral Traffic Offenders and Slum Grabbers Act, 1985.