Hunger strike against sand mining ban sparks tension; 3 protestors ill

Mangalore Today News Network

Udupi, Feb 09, 2017: The situation at the venue of the indefinite hunger  strike against  ban on sand mining organised by the Karnataka Karmika Vedike   near the Clock Tower in the city  turned volatile on February 9, Thursday after three of the protestors  fell ill and one of them was hospitalised.

 The incident also  tested the patience of the  Vedike activists who  burnt tyres on road and blocked traffic. The police who intervened on time, took control of the situation. There was even a heated exchange of words between the police and protestors.

Since then protestors have sat on a dharna with petrol in their  hands and  have warned of self-immolation.

Earlier addressing the protestors on Wednesday, former MP Jayaprakash Hegde took the government  to task for not taking a decision on sand mining. He said the ban has affected all those associated with the industry. He also alleged that the District in-charge Minister Pramod Madhwaraj has no knowledge on the issue.

Karnataka Karmika Vedike President Ravi Shetty said the ban has raised the price of sand  to Rs 19,000 per truck load making it unaffordable to the common man.