Illegal quarrying: Two held, tractor seized in Mandya district

Tahsildar Dr H L Nagaraj and others paid a surprise visit to the Gajarajagiri hills following complaints of illegal stone quarrying.

Interestingly, quarrying has been going on unabated near Siddalingeshwara Gadduge Gavimutt, which is frequented by the chief minister and his family.

The public complained that some influential persons indulged in quarrying without bothering about the possible threat to the temple.

The tahsildar and his team raided this place and sealed the quarry.

Revenue Inspector Siddappa, Village Accountant Manjuanath and others were present.

Bid to assault foiled

In another incident, two miscreants allegedly made a futile bid to assault Tahsildhar Dr H L Nagaraj while he was clearing encroachment at Bommanayakanahalli village in the taluk on Thursday. Dayanand and Yoganath, are the accused.

Though the notice was served to the duo clear the encroachments, they had not responded.

On Thursday, the officials visited the spot and got the encroachment cleared with the help of local police.

Tension prevailed for some time in the village. One of the accused Yoganath is a teacher.
Town Police Sub-Inspector Harivardhan took the duo into custody and registered a case against them for assaulting a government servant on duty.

Meanwhile, Zilla Panchayat member Dr Krishnamurthy and some Karnataka Rakshana Vedike activists condemned the assault on Tahsildhar.

They urged the government to provide police security to government servants as assault cases, killing government officers while performing duty, were happening in the country. Honest officers needed protection, they added.

The government should take strict action against the accused without yielding to political pressure, they added.