Bantwal: Bantwal Rural police raided a site at Kelagina Thumbe in Thumbe village on Friday following information about alleged illegal sand mining from the riverbank and its transportation in tipper lorries.

Acting on credible information received by Bantwal Rural police station sub-inspector Rannagowda Patil, a police team visited the spot along with staff members and found three tipper lorries and an excavator allegedly being used to extract and load sand.

Three lorries and excavator seized

According to police, the team found the vehicles at the site and carried out a raid. Three tipper lorries loaded with sand and an excavator were seized during the operation.

Police said the vehicles, sand and other materials seized from the spot were collectively valued at approximately Rs 25.24 lakh.

The seizure included around two loads of sand along with the machinery and materials allegedly used for loading and transporting the sand from the riverbank.

Four persons who were present at the site were taken into custody during the raid for questioning.

Sand allegedly collected without permission

During questioning, the accused reportedly told the police that they had been collecting sand from the riverbank without obtaining the required permission.

Police said the sand was subsequently being loaded into tipper lorries and transported from the site.

The alleged activity came to light after Bantwal Rural police received information about illegal sand extraction and transportation in the Thumbe area. Based on the information, the police team proceeded to the location and found the vehicles and machinery allegedly involved in the activity.

The raid forms part of the police action against unauthorised sand extraction and transportation in the region.

Case registered at Bantwal Rural station

A case has been registered at the Bantwal Rural police station under Crime No. 129/2026 in connection with the alleged illegal sand mining.

The case has been registered against Nihaan, Rajesh, Shamsheer, Ashraf, Steven D’Souza and Shivaprasad Alva, who are alleged to have assisted in the offence, along with others.

Police have seized the vehicles and other materials as part of the investigation.

Further investigation is underway to establish the circumstances surrounding the alleged extraction, loading and transportation of the sand and to determine the role of the persons named in the case.

The authorities are also expected to examine whether the sand was being extracted from the riverbank on a regular basis and whether other persons or vehicles were involved in the alleged activity.

The seizure of three tipper lorries and an excavator, valued along with the other seized materials at around Rs 25.24 lakh, is expected to form an important part of the investigation.

The Bantwal Rural police have continued their investigation into the case and further details are expected as the inquiry progresses.