Illegal sand mining continues at Kharghar, 3 trucks seized

Even as the police and the tehsildar officials claim to have taken every possible step to stop illegal sand mining, it is still going on at Kharghar.

On Thursday, the police seized three trucks from one illegal mining site along Vastuvihar creek. While one truck was loaded with sand, the other two were empty.

Acting on a tip-off, the police raided the site. However, the culprits got to know about it and they fled before the police reached the spot.

“A resident informed us about the illegal mining at that place around 3.30pm and we immediately dispatched a team to arrest the culprits. But our officials found only three trucks there,” said Dilip Kale, senior police inspector of Kharghar police station.

“No suction machine or other equipment were found at the site. I think the culprits ran away with all those as soon as they learnt about the impending raid. We have registered a case under sections 379 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) against the unidentified culprits,” he added.

According to the police offic- ers, the main accused behind such mining are mostly outsiders and they hardly come to the spots. They hire labourers for dredging sand and pay them calling them to other places.

“Normally, they hire labourers who do not have much idea about the city. Migrated Bangladeshis seem to be their first preference as they are ready to work for lower wages compared to the Indian labourers. Such rackets are still strong in areas such as Pen, Roha, Uran and Mahad,” a senior police officer said.

Just one- and- a- half month ago, the Taloja police arrested a 45-year-old man for illegal sand mining in their area. Equipment worth Rs10,000 and sand worth Rs45,000 were seized f rom the spot.

ACTING ON A TIP-OFF, THE POLICE RAIDED THE SITE. BUT, THE CULPRITS GOT TO KNOW ABOUT IT AND FLED THE SPOT