Sand mining racket exposed
by Jayampathy JAYASINGHE
A racket in sand mining was exposed following the arrest of a suspect
in Ma-Oya in Kochchikade area.
Racketeers engaged in sand-mining make enormous profits these days as
the demand for sand had increased sharply with the construction boom
taking place in the country, police sources told the Sunday Observer.
Following received several petitions regarding sand mining from
residents in the area, IGP Mahinda Balasuriya despatched a police team
from the Walana Vice Squad to the Ma-Oya area last week to apprehend
those engaged in sand mining.
On seeing the police party approaching, a suspect jumped into the
river and escaped while the other was taken for questioning Police
seized six boats used for sand-mining along with several implements used
by the suspects.
The boats were transported in six lorries to the Kochchikade police
station one and a half cubes of sand were also seized by the police. The
value of the boats has been estimated at Rs. 25 lakhs.
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