Yavatmal: In the wee hours of Thursday, the Sub Divisional Officer of Pusad and his team launched a surprise raid at two sand dunes in Babhulgaon tehsil of Yavatmal district, on the directions of the collector, and seized vehicles and sand worth crores.
Yavatmal collector Dr Rajesh Deshmukh has ordered raids on sand dunes across the district. He specifically deputed Pusad SDO Nitinkumar Hingole to conduct a raid in Babhulgaon tehsil, despite the areas coming under the jurisdiction of SDO Yavatmal Swapnil Tangade and the Babhulgaon tehsildar.
The Pusad team raided two sand dunes, namely, Watkhed — I and Watkhed — II and they were taken aback to notice a large quantity of sand was being smuggled out from the dunes illegally by the mafia. The team seized 42 vehicles, which includes 3 tracer boats, one JCB and 38 trucks, along with 100 cubic metres sand from Watkhed — I. The contactor of the sand dune here is one Mahendra Wamanrao Tarhekar of Amravati.
The cops have also seized six vehicles; 4 tracer boats, one poclain machine, and one tractor, and 150 cubic metres sand from Watkhed-II. The sand dune contractor is one Gajanan Kashinath Khode of Amravati.
According to Nitin Hingole, six trucks and one tractor managed to flee from the site, and the remaining vehicles have been seized by the Babhulgaon tehsildar.
SP M Rajkumar has confirmed the action by the SDO and said that Babhulgaon police have registered two separate criminal offences under various sections of IPC, Environment Protection Act and Maharashtra Land Revenue Code against the sand mafia after receiving a complaint from the tehsildar of Babhulgaon on Friday.