Udupi Deputy Commissioner faces the wrath of sand mafia, files complaint

Udupi: If the sand mafia has been giving the police a tough time - one officer DySP Anupama Shenoy, even quit in Ballari district as a result of its alleged pressure tactics - it became more brazen Sunday night, attacking Udupi Deputy Commissioner, Priyanka Mary Francis and her team during an operation against illegal sand mining in Kundapur taluk.

With the sand mafia gaining a hold in the coastal district of Udupi and DK districts, environmentalists, upped their battle against it and recently succeeded in bringing a stay on sand mining in the CRZ area.

But on receiving several complaints about illegal sand mining continuing in Halnadu and Kandlur in Kundapur taluk, the DC and her six member team reached Halnadu at around 11.15 pm in two vehicles and found six labourers engaged in illegal sand mining. It seized two mobiles and two trucks and handed them over to the police along with the labourers.

But on reaching Kandlur around 12.15 pm, the team was followed by around 20 men on 10 bikes, noisily honking all the way.

"I told them t I was the Deputy Commissioner and was there to look into illegal sand mining. But they scolded me," she told reporters later.

Even worse, those gathered at the spot allegedly tried to attack Ms Priyanka and her team.

Meanwhile, Ms Priyanka returned to Udupi and filed a complaint with the police, which has detained seven people in connection with the attack.

Undeterred , Ms Priyanka later vowed to continue her drive against the illegal sand mafia." Sunday's incident has not disheartened me. I will take more strict action against illegal sand mining," she declared.

Taking serious note of the incident, ADGP Alok Mohan said the attack on the DC was a challenge to the district administration as a whole. "Those involved in the incident will not be spared," he said.