Tension mounts as police stop AP BJP chief Veerraju from illegal sand mining areas

VIJAYAWADA: Tension mounted when the police stopped a convoy of state BJP chief Somu Veerraju while he was heading for areas where illegal mining was taking place near the sand reaches on the outskirts of Vykuntapuram village in Palnadu district on Monday.

The sand reaches are located along Krishna river. There have been allegations of illegal mining of sand even by using heavy machines.

The police stopped the vehicles along the way, saying the BJP chief and his men did not take prior permission for the visit. Heated arguments erupted between the BJP leaders and the police personnel.

The BJP chief squatted on the road in a show of protest.

After a while, the BJP leaders were allowed to reach the Amaralingeswara swamy temple area. From there, they could witness the presence of heavy machinery and (allegedly unauthorised) mining of sand.

Veerraju slammed the police for trying to "protect" the illegal mining mafia and demanded that the state government announce a free sand policy by abolishing the policy in vogue. He said the illegal mining of sand was being done in violation of the norms of the National Green Tribunal.