Bantwal: A labourer jumped into the Falguni river to escape a police raid on the sand mining site met watery grave here on Wednesday, October 26.
Sharif (30) from Margadangadi in Muttur is the deceased. The locals have alleged that seeing the police, Sharif took the extreme step.
Following complaints of unabated water bed exploitation by the sand mafia in Mullarpattna Falguni River, Dakshina Kannada SP Bhushan G Borase had directed the Bantwal Rural Police to raid the mining area. During the raid, workers involved in sand mining escaped. A frightened Sharif, in a bid to escape, jumped into the river though he did not know swimming and drowned.
Immediately, the fire personnel launched a search operation. Local diver Mohammed fished out the body after hours of searching.
The enraged locals blamed the police for his death and pelted stones at the police van. Situation worsened as the locals refused to send the body for post mortem. They also demanded DC to come to the spot and shouted slogans against the police.
SP Borase and other officials were present at the spot. More police personnel were pressed into action.
The situation was out of control till the body was brought to Bantwal Government Hospital. However, post mortem was conducted amid police protection.
