VELLORE: Fearing a crackdown by the police, rattled Sande smugglers in and around Thakkolam have done a vanishing act. A day after a head constable was fatally mowed down by the mafia, smugglers have taken to their heels leaving the riverbed at many places deserted.
The policeman was killed while attempting to thwart smuggling of sand from Kosasthalaiyar River near Purusai village on Sunday.
As the incident has sent shock waves in the region, among the cops in particular, police have been given clear instructions to nab all the sand smugglers operating in the area. “SP Vijayakumar has directed all Station House Officers (SHO) to spare no one indulging in sand trafficking,” said a police official in Arakkonam sub-division.
In a bid to escape from the wrath of the police and eventual arrest, sand smugglers in Thakkolam, Parameswarmangalam, Purusai and Ganapathipuram have fled from the area. “Several families in these villages along the Kosasthalaiyar River had been involved in sand smuggling. In each village, around 20 to 30 families are engaged in this illegal activity. They make a profit of around `2,000 per trip. They make money by plundering the river,” said a resident.
The sand smugglers have also taken with them the vehicles and machinery and gone into hiding. “Since Sunday, we did not see a single tractor or lorry carrying sand in the area. Usually, 60 to 70 heavy vehicles and tractor trolleys loaded with sand pass through the village every day,” said another villager.
Sand mafia from Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram districts have also been exploiting the precious mineral of the riverbed at Purusai, which was the converging point of Vellore, Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram districts, said officials.
Villagers in Thakkolam said, corrupt officials in revenue, PWD and police departments were also encouraging the sand mafia.
“We are planning to form an anti-sand trafficking committee in each village along the riverbed. The team will comprise officials from various departments, representatives from local administration and youngsters from the respective village to check sand smuggling,” Revenue Divisional Officer of Ranipet M Priyadharshini told Express.
A meeting would be held to take a final call on this innovative idea, she added.
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