Mangalore: Man Involved with Illegal Sand Transportation to Kerala Arrested
Pics: Prajwal Ukkuda
Daijiworld Media Network- Mangalore (RS/SP)
Mangalore, Apr 14: The local policemen arrested a person involved with illegal sand transportation through train services, from Mangalore Central railway station on Monday, April, 13.
The arrested man has been identified as Papachchan, a resident of Kochi. The policemen have also seized sand bags that were meant to be dispatched to Kerala. The arrested person lives in the railway quarters in the city, as his wife is employed in the railways.
He was taken in to police custody after he came to spot, after being summoned by the police. It is learnt that he also works as a sub-contractor for public works in the railways.
The sacs contained sifted sand bearing the label, ‘Jerah sieved sand’ duly showing the price for each bag as Rs 90. The consignment was meant to be transported to Perumbavoor in Kerala.
When questioned, Papachachan said, the sand was meant to be transported to Kannur in Kerala, for the railway work in progress at the railway station there. He also informed the police that Devadas Padil is the main contractor for the sand transportation.
Pandeswar Circle inspector N R Mukri said, dispatching of sand without obtaining permission from the department of geology was illegal.
In addition to over 200 bags already sealed, more than 200 more bags were being readied for being dispatched, when the policemen reached the spot. Five workers were engaged in packing the sacs. Every bag was printed with the name, V T M enterprises, Perumbavoor, Kerala.
As there is total ban in Kerala on sand mining, a big racket involved with sending the sand to that state is flourishing in Karnataka. But the consignment now caught forms a tiny fraction of this booming activity, said some of the persons who were present at the spot.
Earlier, some organizations had alleged about several such rackets being actively involved with illegal sand mining and transportation and also of some of the politicians being hand in glove with the clandestine sand transportation operators.