<p>The staff, divided into four teams raided the Lakshmantheertha river bed simultaneously and recovered 18 coracles and a lorry. <br /><br />Eight coracles that were involved in lifting sand near Sopanakatte at Tondalu village were also seized. It may be recalled that a child met watery grave after falling into the ditch that had formed due to sand mining.<br /><br />Two coracles near a burial ground at Ranganatha layout, four at a farm belonging to former TMC president D Chikkachennappa, another four coracles near a farm of Prasanna, four more at a land belonging to Congress leader Jayaram have been seized, according to sources. Criminal cases have been filed against the culprits.<br /><br />Absence of police<br /><br />Assistant Commissioner Lingamurthy has expressed his unhappiness over the failure of police department in curbing the illegal activities. <br /><br />Though details of the operation were informed in prior to the police, they failed to join the team, citing that they are expecting a top cop’s arrival. <br /><br />Two rounds of meeting was held earlier to the operation, and the complete information was given to the police department, he answered to a query.<br /><br />Excise department circle inspector Umashankar, RTO Prabhakar, Manjunath of Fisheries, Puttashetty of Fire department and others participated.</p>.<p>MLA H P Manjunath had held discussions with the officials recently to curb the unabated illegal sand mining at Lakshmantheertha river.<br /></p>
<p>The staff, divided into four teams raided the Lakshmantheertha river bed simultaneously and recovered 18 coracles and a lorry. <br /><br />Eight coracles that were involved in lifting sand near Sopanakatte at Tondalu village were also seized. It may be recalled that a child met watery grave after falling into the ditch that had formed due to sand mining.<br /><br />Two coracles near a burial ground at Ranganatha layout, four at a farm belonging to former TMC president D Chikkachennappa, another four coracles near a farm of Prasanna, four more at a land belonging to Congress leader Jayaram have been seized, according to sources. Criminal cases have been filed against the culprits.<br /><br />Absence of police<br /><br />Assistant Commissioner Lingamurthy has expressed his unhappiness over the failure of police department in curbing the illegal activities. <br /><br />Though details of the operation were informed in prior to the police, they failed to join the team, citing that they are expecting a top cop’s arrival. <br /><br />Two rounds of meeting was held earlier to the operation, and the complete information was given to the police department, he answered to a query.<br /><br />Excise department circle inspector Umashankar, RTO Prabhakar, Manjunath of Fisheries, Puttashetty of Fire department and others participated.</p>.<p>MLA H P Manjunath had held discussions with the officials recently to curb the unabated illegal sand mining at Lakshmantheertha river.<br /></p>
