Siliguri, 03rd October: NJP police arrested a man on charges of indulging in illegal sand mining and seized a truck loaded with river sand. The arrested has been identified as Tapas Roy.
The police launched a campaign in the Puthimari area after receiving information regarding Roy who was transporting the illegally mined sand from the Sahu River to another place.
Over the years, allegations of illegal sand mining by sand mafia in several rivers including Mahananda, Balasan, Karatoya in Jalpaiguri district and Sahu River surfaced regularly. Despite launching several campaigns led by the NJP police, illegal sand mining does not seem to stop.
River bed mining causes a lot of alterations to the physical characteristics of both river and riverbed. Locals fear if timely action is not taken to stop the illegal sand extraction, the water will enter the field and houses close by, thereby endangering the lives and livelihoods of the people.
The arrested driver of the illegal sand laden truck was produced before the Jalpaiguri court. Police are investigating the entire incident.