Kolkata: Police conducted raids at Sadhipur in Birbhum on Monday to check illegal sand mining from river Kopai.
A team of local police along with a combat force raided the place all of a sudden. They initially directed the sand mafias to leave the place. But the requests fell on deaf ears and the police had to resort to lathi-charge.
People, who were working at the direction of the sand mafias, started fleeing the place realising that raids were being conducted. Police have detained some of them.
Police came to know that the sand mafias had been illegally mining sand from the river and there were some, who were taking soil from the river bank as well. It was resulting in weakening of the river banks and the chances of floods were going up.
In a bid to bring an end to this menace, police would take similar steps as soon as they get any such information,
said a police officer.
Senior police officers in the district were also informed about the incident. It is learnt that the police have intensified vigil to check illegal mining of sand.
Policemen from local police station will constantly monitor to keep a check on illegal mining of sand, said a police officer.
It may be recalled that in April 2017, eight persons were killed in an explosion that took place when they were making bombs as a gang war was on to gain control over illegal sand mining at
Labhpur in Birbhum.
Locals claimed that illegal mining was rampant in the area and it was the source of money for local goons. One involve in the illegal sand mining can make fast cash and it often leads to rivalry between
different groups.