Harshini Brahmavar
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)
Udupi, Apr 11: The raid on illegal sand extraction at Kandlur and Halnadu in Kundapur taluk by deputy commissioner (DC), Priyanka Mary Francis, with the help of Kundapur assistant commissioner (AC), Shilpa Nag and tahsildar, G M Borkar, on the night of April 1 this year has given rise to a number of questions. The DC had not lost heart even after observing that a number of motor bikes were following her vehicle that night during the raid. She went ahead with the raid on the sand mafia that was active at Kandlur.
Although two mobile check posts aimed at stopping illegal sand transportation had been set up at Shirur and Hosangady, they have not been effective. Perhaps, both the DC and AC decided to conduct surprise raid on the spot to make a reality check. As the AC herself admits, the current assault on government officials was not the first one. An attempt to attack tahsildar had been made in the past. Shilpa has been taking one step or the other to rein in sand mafia since she took over charge on November 21.
File Photo
Questions Aplenty
Sources say that after the officers approached Kundapur police station that day, the police took three hours to register first information report. District superintendent of police, K T Balakrishna, said that the delay could be on account of sticking to legal procedures. At the same time, it is apparent that police do not have detaild information about what transpired that day at the illegal sand mining sites. The tahsildar was in the police station all through. What they were doing during this long stay? Why did the police not gather any details from the tahsildar? - these are pertinent questions, answers for which the public would want to know.
The officers had first raided the illegal mining spot at Halnadu. They then went to Kandlur, about five to six km away. By the time the officers reached there, already over 50 persons had gathered. Who gave information to these people to reach the spot at that unearthly hour? Could people be made to come out of their slumber and reach this remote spot within such a short period? People are eager to know answers for these and other questions. Police say they are now guiding investigation on the basis of tahsildar's statement.
Not tallying: Although the police have made certain arrests, they do match up to the number of accused. The police have taken on record that over 50 were accused of assault in the case. So far 22 have been taken into arrested. The others are still at large. What action is being taken to bring the other to book? When can the people hope to see all the accused behind the bars? are some of the questions people have been asking.
People from some north Indian states and locals have been working for these sand extraction units. They got arrested on April 2. The real villains are moving about freely with their heads held high. The owners of these mines continue to make money in lacs of rupees every day. At the same time, was the department of mines and geology unaware of the illegal mining that was going on under their noses? The officials would find it difficult to feign innocence. Were these officials hand in glove with illegal sand miners? The police department says it is continuing with investigation. It is difficult to believe that they have not got any clue about the real persons behind illegal sand mining. So far they have not come out with any details about the real culprits involved with this activity. The department does not tire of repeating the claim that is is working round the clock to attend to the problems of the people.
File Photos
DC Priyanka had said that she chose to conduct the raid secretly as she had suspicion that the police might leak information to sand miners. Was there a reason for this mistrust getting deep-rooted in her mind, is a pertinent question. It is no secret that lure of money creates some to commit breach of trust and loyalty. Such people need to be brought to book regularly, because the wrong deeds of a few in the department brings bad name for the entire department.
The police say they had no information about illegal sand mining or the aggressive stance of people involved with it. The department is expected to be aware of everything wrong that is going on around them. Did the intelligence fail them? Why were they not alerted when a tipper hit the jeep in which the tahsildar was seated?
Minister Pramod Madhwaraj has come in for criticism for his response to these developments. Although he appreciated the action by the women officers, he opined that it was wrong on their part to have used private vehicles to conduct the raids. There is no rule about vehicles to be used during raids on illegal dens. The DC says that things could have taken different turn had she used the official vehicle for the raid.
Sharatchandra Hegde, a social worker from Kundapur, terms the minister's statement as 'childish', something that does not suit a politician having social concern.
Boat owners in quandary
Owners of the boats that have been seized are also facing losses for no mistake of theirs. They had bought these boats by investing heavily and rented them out. Now that the boats are gone, boat owners are directionless, when the real culprits are not perturbed.
Need for separate sand policy
After the government enforced uniform sand policy in 2012, sand mining as an activity has grown by leaps and bounds. Going by the happenings, it appears that this sand mining sector is in the strong grip of anti-social elements. If this is so, it is definitely a worrying development. Several districts on the other side of Bengaluru do not have sand. Therefore, to avoid mafia from operating in coastal districts, separate sand policy needs to be brought for coastal districts. This has been a persistent demand pending from the last many years.
The talk of M-sand appears farcical. The proposed import of sand is nothing but a new avenue for earning commission. Sharatchandra feels that M-sand manufacture or import can never be an alternative to sand extraction. He predicts that this will push people further down the abyss of woes. This, in his view, is part of vote bank politics. The government's go-slow policy on framing a proper sand policy has been depriving poor workers of their daily bread. All these problems are interlinked. Construction activity was at its boom between 2006 and 2012. Now, almost everyone connected with this industry including builders, daily wagers and electricians, are in a soup.
Kishore, district vice president of BJP, feels that all the departments have to work in tandem to bring results, and blame game takes people nowhere. He is of the opinion that the revenue department has more important role to play in this issue. If this department functions properly, everything will go on legally and transparently, he asserts.
Task force
Although task force covering almost all the departments exists to regulate sand mafia, it has not made much inroads into the mafia. The raid this time was conducted independently. In the past, some raids were conducted with police help. Some among them had succeeded while in several cases, only equipment were found at the raiding spot.
The police department appears to be incensed at the suspicion expressed by the DC about the integrity of police personnel. Some police officials feel that at least the superintendent of police, deputy superintendent and additional superintendent could have been kept informed in advance. They say safety aspects could have been taken care of in a better way. At the same time, police department does not have any special role in sand mining, and all departments have their own roles to play.
As per the recent task force decision, a committee of officials including police personnel has been formed to demolish illegal sheds built for housing labourers on river banks, and all infrastructure created therein have been ordered to be demolished. The DC has expressed readiness to make use of section 144 to regulate sand mining activity in the district.She has told the officials that those who allow storage of illegally mined sand in their land are prone to legal action.
Even after 10 days of the raid nothing dramatic has happened, and sand mafia does not seem to be too much disturbed. So far 22 accused persons have been arrested. But actually 21 are in custody as Bhaskar Mogaveera, who was injured during the raid continues to recuperate in a hospital. As per police information, no sand mining activity is on at Halnadu after the said raid. But sand was seized from there on Friday. Three teams are working to crush illegal sand mining and deputy superintendent of police, Kumaraswamy, is personally overseeing the operations.
In the meantime, rumours are gaining ground that the DC here will be transferred elsewhere. She had recently taken charge of the district and is yet to be fully conversant with the goings on. The concerned should not bend under political pressures and take decisions based on selfish interests. Abiding by the law and ensuring safety of government officials is the duty of the government, and it has to show that it has the commitment to ensure these things.
ASP Vishnuvardhan, meanwhile, has said that the police department has laid a trap to arrest the kingpins of sand mafia and owners of specific pieces of land, where illegal sand mining is going on, adding that investigation is going rapidly.