A gang of eight members was arrested by the Kalamassery police on Monday, on the charges of illegal sand mining and forging sand passes.

The arrested are identified as Kunnathur residents Bijoy (37), Binu (34), Cijo Pappachcan (26), Sanoj (38), Robin (24), Biju (32), Perumbavoor resident Muralidharan Nair (62) and Thiruvananthapuram resident Manoj (29).

The illegal sand mining and forgery by the mafia came to light when a truck was held by the Kalamassery police last Friday. It was a truck registered at Thiruvananthapuram, which was taking sand from a sand park near Perumbavoor. When probed, its driver Manoj accepted that the sand pass he had was illegal.

The pass, which had the seal of the mining and geology department, was examined at Kakkanad office, and reported that it has been forged. The cover page of the pass issued by the department was used and the leaves inside were forged.

On further probing, the police identified the people who forged the seal and issued the pass. They were arrested on Monday and were presented before court. Six people are remanded in custody and the police took two into custody for further investigation.

“The trucks which come from Thiruvananthapuram carrying timber to Perumbavoor, always go back empty. To make some profit out of the trip, they take sand from here and distribute it at Thiruvananthapuram. The sand costs Rs 100 for every foot, and they make Rs 20,000 for every truck,” said the Kalamassery CI, Mr V.K. Sanil Kumar.