A large quantity of sand extracted from the Sharavathi backwater has been seized by the police near Haridravathi village in Hosanagar taluk on Saturday.
Acting on a tip-off, a team lead by Superintendent of Police Abhinav Khare raided the extraction and storage points along the Sharavathi backwater. More than 600 tractor loads of sand worth over ₹1 crore have been seized.
According to sources, those involved in the illegal business were employing boats to extract sand from the riverbed here. The sand extracted was sold in Shivamogga, Haveri, and Davangere cities. Based on an anonymous letter from a resident of Haridravathi to Mr. Khare, the raid was planned.
Cases have been booked under sections 379 (theft) and 420 (cheating) of Indian Penal Code and under Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1975 against 15 persons from Haridravathi and Battemallappa villages. Three persons have been arrested. A manhunt has been launched to nab 12 more people.
Meanwhile, the police arrested two persons in Shivamogga city on Friday night on the charge of transporting sand without valid documents. Two trucks and sand worth ₹80,000 have been seized.
