Illegal activities to be handled by special team: Nisha

Udupi: A special district level police team will be created to handle problems like illegal sand mining, matka and other illegal activities, said Nisha James, Superintendent of police speaking at her first phone-in programme at the district police office.

Officials and personnel on beat duty will be asked to tackle illegal activities occurring the respective police stations jurisdiction. Any police staff showing negligence of duty will face stern action.

Responding to complaints during the phone-in programme regarding illegal sand mining from Byndoor, Shankaranarayana and Gangolli police station limits, Ms James informed that even if the police raided the illegal sand mining unit, no case can be booked against the accused. The police can only inform the Department of Mines and Geology regarding the issue.

The Department will later inspect it and a case can be registered based on their report. Even when a truck transporting sand is stopped, the geology department’s approval is required to register a case, said the SP and assured that the police would take necessary steps curb illegal sand mining.