Bantwal: Four held, 3 tipper lorries and excavator seized in illegal sand mining raid

Mangalore Today News Network

Bantwal, Sep 26, 2026: Bantwal Rural police have arrested four persons and seized three tipper lorries and an excavator during a raid on an alleged illegal sand mining operation at Kelagina Thumbe in Thumbe village.

Acting on credible information, Bantwal Rural police sub-inspector Rannagowda Patil and his team raided the site on Friday and found three tipper lorries and an excavator allegedly being used to extract and load sand from the riverbank.

Sand mining

Police seized the three lorries loaded with sand, an excavator and other materials used in the operation. The total value of the seized vehicles and materials has been estimated at around Rs 25.24 lakh.

The four persons found at the spot were taken into custody. During questioning, they allegedly admitted to collecting sand from the riverbank without permission, loading it into lorries and transporting it, police said.

A case has been registered at Bantwal Rural Police Station under Crime No. 129/2026 against Nihaan, Rajesh, Shamsheer, Ashraf, Steven D’Souza and Shivaprasad Alva, who are alleged to have assisted in the offence, along with others.

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