The raid was conducted following a tip-off received by sub-inspector Rannagowda Patil about illegal extraction of sand from a riverbank and its transportation in lorries. Mangaluru : Bantwal Rural Police raided Kelagina Thumbe in Thumbe village on Friday and uncovered an illegal sand mining operation.
The total value of the seized property is estimated at Rs 25.24 lakh. During the operation, police found three tipper lorries and a JCB earthmover engaged in sand mining. Authorities seized the three sand-laden lorries, the JCB, about two additional loads of sand stored at the site, and other materials used for loading.
A case has been registered at Bantwal Rural police station against Nihan, Raziq, Mohammed Shamshir, Mohammed Ashraf, Steven D’Souza and Shivaprasad Alva, along with others, under Sections 42, 43 and 44 of the Karnataka Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 1994; Sections 4(1), 4(1a) and 21(1)(1a) of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act; and Section 303(2) of the BNS. Further investigation is underway.