Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

19 boats seized for illegal sand-mining

G. Mahadevan

Raids at various locations on the banks of the Neyyar by revenue and police officials

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Nineteen country boats were seized during a drive against illegal sand mining in three panchayats in Neyyattinkara taluk on Tuesday.

Raids were conducted at various locations on the banks of the Neyyar by a team of revenue and police officials, led by Thiruvananthapuram Revenue Divisional Officer K.V. Mohan Kumar. The seized boats were later brought to a landing area beneath the Poovar bridge. A police post has been set up in the area.

Early raids

The raids started at 6.30 a.m. when Mr. Mohan Kumar and party went to Parayanvilakkadavu in the Pozhiyoor area. Seeing the approaching police jeeps, three persons who were transporting sand in a country boat along a canal jumped into the water and escaped. Though policemen gave chase, they could not be caught.

From Parayanvilakkadavu, the raid party set out in canoes to nearby Pozhikkara. Here too, a few persons who were engaged in illegal sand mining made good their escape leaving behind their boats. They also managed to partially sink a boat loaded with sand.

Sensing that the raid was slowing down, the team commandeered a couple of motorboats. By this time, country boats had been seized by police parties in separate raids at Thuruthummoola and Poovar.

Attempts by the raid party to seize three boats from a bathing ghat behind the Jama-ath mosque at Poovar created tense moments with local people coming out in strength against the raid.

The boats were later taken away by the local people as the raid party watched helplessly.

The situation was brought under control when a police party arrived on the scene and pacified the people.

When the seized boats were brought to a landing area beneath the Poovar bridge, a large crowd gathered there demanding that the vessels be released immediately. Some people started shouting that they too would mobilise women and children and would forcibly take away the boats as was done near the Poovar mosque.

Residents' claim

Stephen and Hariprasad, residents of Attuppuram, who held talks with Mr. Mohan Kumar, contended that the boats were not those used for illegal sand-mining and that they belonged to individuals who used them as "Kadathu vallam."

To this, Mr. Mohan Kumar replied that the seized boats were not being confiscated and that the owners could give a petition to the District Collector and get the boats released. The seized boats would be kept in the landing area under police protection.

He also assured the local people that no legal action would be initiated against the boat owners. "We would only require an undertaking from the owner that the boats will not be used for illegal sand mining," he explained. He also told the agitated crowd that the district administration planned to work with the local bodies to give permits for sand mining in identified areas.

Bid to recapture boats

Meanwhile, raids were continued at various points in Poovar, Thirupuram and Kulathur panchayats. Shortly after 3 p.m., a group of people led by Vice-president of Kulathur panchayat Santhosh Kumar converged on the landing area and started to take away the seized boats. There were tense moments in the area when the policemen on the spot tried to prevent the group from taking away the boats. On hearing about the incident, more policemen rushed to the spot and chased away the group.

Following this, Mr. Mohankumar directed the local revenue officials to take away the seized boats. Later, it was decided to pull the boats ashore and overturn them so that they cannot be taken away easily. Additional Tahsildar, Neyyattinkara, K. Surendran said the police had been asked to register a case against Santhosh Kumar.

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