Kundapur: In a major crackdown on illegal sand mining along the Varahi river, Kundapur police conducted an early morning raid near Kandlur Bridge and arrested 11 persons involved in unauthorised extraction and transport of sand. The operation was carried out on February 10 following specific intelligence inputs about violations of mining regulations.
Police also seized four boats and sand stock during the raid. A case has been registered at the Kundapur Rural Police Station, and further investigation is in progress to identify the full extent of the network and regulatory violations.
Raid near Kandlur Bridge
According to police officials, the raid was conducted at a sand extraction point near Kandlur Bridge on the Varahi river stretch. Authorities said the operation was launched after receiving credible information that sand was being mined beyond permitted limits and outside geo-fenced boundaries fixed by the government.
Teams reached the location in the early hours and caught workers allegedly engaged in illegal sand extraction and loading activities. Officers secured the site and detained those present.
Police said the action is part of ongoing enforcement efforts to curb illegal sand mining, which has environmental as well as regulatory implications.
Eleven taken into custody
The arrested persons include a site supervisor and multiple labourers working at the location.
Those arrested have been identified as Ajmal, the site supervisor, and labourers Ramashankar Rajbir (35), Ram Kumar (40), Govinda Chaudhary (26), Shivamuni (32), Junna Rajbir (35), Satyadeva (30), Kamalesh Nishad (35), Santosh Nishad (23), Om Prakash Rajbhar (34), and Ramesh Rajbhar (35).
Police said most of the workers were engaged in manual and boat-based sand extraction and transport operations at the time of the raid.
All the accused were produced before the court following their arrest, as per procedure.
Boats and sand stock seized
During the operation, police seized four boats allegedly being used for illegal sand mining and transport. The total value of the boats is estimated at around ₹3 lakh.
In addition, approximately three-and-a-half units of sand were seized from the site. The confiscated sand is estimated to be worth about ₹4,500 based on prevailing regulated rates.
Officials said the seized equipment and materials have been documented and secured as case property. Further technical verification will be done to assess whether additional machinery or vehicles were involved in the operation.
Allegations against dock owner and supervisor
According to police sources, the sand dock owner, identified as Sunil Shetty, along with supervisor Ajmal, allegedly instructed workers to extract and transport sand by crossing designated geo-fencing boundaries set under official mining permissions.
Geo-fencing is used by authorities to digitally demarcate permitted sand extraction zones in riverbeds. Mining beyond these limits is treated as illegal and punishable under relevant laws and mining regulations.
Investigators are examining the permission records, GPS boundaries, and operational logs linked to the sand dock to determine the scale of violations and responsibility of those managing the site.
Case registered, probe continues
Kundapur Rural Police have registered a case under relevant sections related to illegal sand mining and violation of regulatory norms. Officials said further investigation is underway to trace the ownership chain, financial transactions, and possible links to transport and distribution networks.
Authorities indicated that more notices and summons may be issued as the probe progresses. Statements from the arrested persons are being recorded, and revenue and mining department officials are expected to assist in the technical aspects of the inquiry.
Focus on riverbed protection
Illegal sand mining has been a recurring concern in several coastal and riverine belts of Karnataka due to its impact on river ecology, groundwater levels, and bridge safety. Enforcement agencies have stepped up surveillance and joint raids in sensitive stretches.
Police said more surprise inspections will be conducted in vulnerable river zones to deter unauthorised extraction and ensure compliance with mining regulations.