Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (TP)
Udupi, Jan 6: In two separate incidents, police in Udupi district cracked down on illegal sand theft and transportation, seizing tipper lorries and arresting the accused for operating without valid permits.
On January 5, at Irmugodu in Cherkadi village of Brahmavar taluk, Vincent Prakash D’Almeida allegedly stole sand illegally from a flowing government stream and stored it unlawfully. The sand was later loaded onto a tipper lorry owned by Mohammed Irfan.
As per information provided by the owner, the lorry was being driven by Sameyagd Jain (25), a resident of Bharathi Nivasa, Didimbiri, Karkala. The accused was allegedly transporting the sand illegally, without any permit, from Bangle Gudde side towards Pulkeri, near the Kabettu Athur Church gate in Kasaba village of Karkala taluk.
During patrol duty, PSI Muraleedhar Naik of Karkala Town police station, along with his staff, intercepted the vehicle and seized the tipper lorry carrying approximately three units of sand.
Police took into custody both the driver, Sameyagd Jain, and Vincent Prakash D’Almeida (54), a resident of Petri, Brahmavar, who allegedly stored and loaded the sand illegally. The accused will be produced before the court.
In another incident, based on a complaint filed by Vithal Malwadkar, police sub-inspector (Investigation), Hiriyadka police station, a case was registered following a vehicle inspection conducted on January 2 at around 12.30 pm near the Anjaru village Ring Road.
During the inspection, a tipper lorry proceeding from Anjaru Ring Road towards the Udupi–Hiriyadka main road, driven by Sheikh Mohammed Nadeem, was intercepted. On inspection, the vehicle was found carrying approximately three units of sand valued at around Rs 13,000.
Police investigation revealed that the sand had been illegally stolen from a stockpile near the Cherkadi Kannaru petrol bunk and was being transported without any valid permit, with the intention of making unlawful gains.
The accused, Sheikh Mohammed Nadeem (30), son of Mohammed Rafiq, a resident near the Rice Mill, Tellar, Durga village, Karkala taluk, has been arrested. The tipper lorry used in the commission of the offence has also been seized.