Phansidewa, 08th December: Police seized a sand-laden dumper and arrested its driver during a routine naka checking at the Muraliganj check post under the Bidhannagar Investigation Centre in Phansidewa. The vehicle was allegedly carrying stolen sand extracted illegally from the Mahananda River.
According to police sources, the dumper was on its way to Bihar after illegally lifting sand from the riverbed. During the check, the driver failed to produce any valid documents related to the transportation of the sand, following which the vehicle was seized and the driver was taken into custody.
The arrested driver has been identified as Sukhlal Soren, a resident of Bihar. He was produced before the Siliguri Sub-Divisional Court on Monday.
Police further said that the sand was being transported under the cover of darkness in an attempt to evade law enforcement. An investigation has been initiated by the Bidhannagar Investigation Centre to ascertain the involvement of others in the illegal sand theft racket.