Mangaluru: Law enforcement and administrative officials conducted surprise raids along the Nethravathi and Phalguni riverbanks, confiscating illegally extracted sand along with mining tools and transport vehicles.
During a late-night operation near the Kannur mosque on the Nethravathi River, Kankanady police discovered individuals engaged in unauthorized sand extraction. On spotting the approaching officers, the laborers abandoned the site, leaving behind three heavy-duty trucks, two boats loaded with sand, a dozen baskets, six iron crowbars, and a metal ladder. The seized sand is valued at ₹18.1 lakh.
Meanwhile, in another enforcement action, Kavoor police apprehended three individuals—Subhash (65), Lalit Sahni (25), and Dharmendra (28)—while they were illicitly mining sand along the Phalguni River near Mangalpade. Despite their attempt to escape, the suspects were caught and later admitted to their involvement in the illegal activity.
Additionally, officers from the Mining and Geology Department, accompanied by the Adyapadi village tahsildar, raided a site in Daivangala Gudde. The team uncovered 13 metric tonnes of illicitly hoarded sand and seized six iron boats used for transportation. The combined worth of the confiscated materials is estimated at ₹4.5 lakh.
Separate criminal cases have been lodged at Kankanady, Kavoor, and Bajpe police stations. Further inquiries are underway to identify and penalize those behind the organized racket.
Dharwad to Host District-Level Job Fair: Thousands of Openings Expected
Mangaluru: Sandesha Awards 2025 Honors Cultural Icons
#CrackdownOnIllegalMining #EnvironmentalCrime #MangaluruRaids #RiverbankProtection