A 50 -year -old man was arrested by the Athamangalam police for assaulting a sub -inspector on illegal sand mining of the dry portion of the Miranda dam in the village of Navapalayam, near the city of Kalasapakam in Tiruvannamalai on Thursday.
Police said the arrested person has been identified as S. Kumran, a resident or village of Navapalayam. The injured sub -inspector was P. Nagarajan, 44.
The initial investigation revealed that, according to the notice, a five -member police team led by Nagarajan, a policeman from Athamangalam, patrolled the area of the dam for illegal sand mining complaints when the team found a lot of sand mining in the area of the dam, using Earthmover. The sand was loaded in three tractors.
Immediately, the team seized the vehicles. When the seized vehicles were escorted by the police, Kumran intercepted the police team and demanded the release of sitting vehicles. There was a discussion and Kumran assaulted the sub -inspector.
A video of the incident went viral on social media platforms, which led to the public protest. The residents rescued the injured sub -inspector, who was admitted at the Primary Health Center (PHC) in the Aldea de Athamangalam. A case has been registered against Kumaran, who has at least 13 cases on him in several police stations in the district. He was arrested and lodged in Central Prison in Velore. A probe is underway.
Police said that more than 100 illegal brick ovens have been operating near the dam area. The sand is illegally from water bodies, government lands to operate thesis brick ovens. The new police station in the Aldea de Athamangalam was formed after the bifurcation of the Kadaladi Police in February, since the plaintiffs have to travel at least 35 km to file complaints at the Kadaladi police station before. The opening of the Athamangalam police station has helped increase patrol in the area against such illegal activities, residents said.
Published – April 10, 2025 10:53 PM IST