Cheranalloor: Sand mafia on a spree

KOCHI: As the sand mafia has tightened its grips on the Cheranalloor area, the revenue department is groping in the dark to initiate any action against them. The special squad of the revenue department which conducts enforcement with assistance of police is ill-equipped to take action as the sand mafia is armed enough to resist any action.“The mining takes place late at night in the remote areas. By the time we reach the spot, the people often flee,” said a revenue department official.Often the checking is conducted with the assistance of  policemen but they are armed only with lathis to resist any attack from the mafia.“No sub-inspector has been present in the Cheranalloor police station for the last few months. The newly-appointed person will take charge this week. Thus, the mafia found this as a favourable time for mining activities which have increased considerably. The mafia has swords and sometimes carry country made guns to launch assault on the raiding team,” a police official in Cheranalloor police station said.The police have deployed Shadow Police to track the people active in the illegal sand mining.“We have intensified the drive against the sand mafia active in the Cheranalloor area,” said Tommy Sebastine, Assistant Commissioner, Special Branch.