Two arrested for mining sand in Cauvery riverbed

Trichy: Police on Tuesday arrested two people in Trichy on charges of illegally mining sand from the Cauvery river. They seized half a unit of sand and three aluminum vessels from them.

Based on a tip, the Srirangam police rushed to the Cauvery riverbed near Kallanai Road and caught P Shivaraj, 35, and P Karthikeyan, 28, both from Manachanallur, when they were loading sand into large aluminum vessels.

During an investigation, police learned that the suspects lacked the necessary documents for mining. They men claimed they were taking sand at the direction of a kiln owner. Police arrested them and seized sand worth ₹20,000. They registered a case against them under Section 303 (2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for theft and under Section 21 (i) of the Mines and Minerals Act for illegal mining.

Shivaraj and Karthikeyan were produced before a magistrate and remanded in judicial custody. Police are searching for the alleged kiln owner, Karunanidhi.