Villagers Foil Two Illegal Mining Operations in Mahabubnagar, Five Vehicles Seized

Hyderabad: Villagers foiled two separate illegal mining operations in Mahabubnagar district and alerted local police, leading to the seizure of five vehicles involved in the unauthorized excavation of soil and sand.

Vigilant villagers from Mallapur village in Midjil mandal foiled an illegal soil-smuggling operation along the Kalwakurthy Lift Irrigation (KLI) main canal in the early hours of Sunday, Midjil police said.

Locals intercepted four loaded tippers and an earthmover (JCB) hauling soil from the canal embankment and alerted the authorities.

"We rushed to the outskirts of the village and shifted the seized vehicles to the Midjil police station. We also informed the local Mandal Revenue Officer (MRO) for further action as per the law," said K Srinivasulu, Sub-Inspector of Police, Midjil.

Agitated villagers demanded a thorough probe into the case against the sand and soil mafia to protect the government property.

Later on Sunday morning, acting on a tip-off from locals, Midjil police raided the Dundubhi Vagu check dam on the outskirts of Wadiyala village.

"We caught a tractor red-handed while it was being loaded with sand without valid permits. The tractor was impounded and shifted to the police station. The case is under investigation, and the relevant documents of the seized vehicles will be examined based on the MRO's report. Strict action will be taken," a police officer said.