Cuttack: A Special Squad of Commissionerate Police conducted raids at Gopalpur area on the outskirts of Cuttack city and detained 11 persons for transporting sand illegally from a sand reach. Police also seized 7 tractors from the spot.
The tractor owners, drivers and persons operating the sand reach are among the accused detained in connection with the illegal transportation of sand.
Following allegations of massive irregularities in sand transportation, a special team of Cuttack Sadar Police laid wait at the sand reach in Gopalpur area on Saturday night and nabbed the 11 persons when they had come to mine sand.
Owner of one of the tractors seized said while speaking to a local channel that his vehicle was engaged in a nearby brick kiln for the past 15 days. He said he wasn’t aware of the sand lifting, and added that the tractor driver might have agreed to lift sand from the site to make some quick bucks.
It may be mentioned here that this particular site was not leased out for mining and details are awaited.
