Despite having knowledge of unabated illegal sand mining, revenue officials in Karimnagar district are able to do only little to check it. They are fearing to stop or seize the sand-laden vehicles as the owners had reportedly formed a syndicate and are maintaining informers. If any police officer or government officials tries to seize vehicles involved in the illegal act, the sand mafia reportedly threatens them. About two months ago, two persons died under suspicious circumstances in Mallaram and Rudraram villages. There are allegations that the sand mafia is behind the murders.

In the recent past -- on March 10, Goskula Sadaiah (35), a youth of Kadambapur village in Sultanabad mandal, unable to bear the harassment by sand mafia, tried to commit suicide in front of Sultanabad police station. But cops rushed him to the hospital and saved his life. Sand from the district is being transported to Hyderabad and Siddipet.

According to the mines and geology department authorities, there is permission for mining sand only from two reaches -- Ramagundam and Velgatoor mandals. But miners are digging out sand from each and every source, specially, Khajipur stream in Karimnagar mandal and Manair stream in Sircilla town. Hundreds of tractors and trucks, laden with sand, ply from the places in broad daylight.

Meanwhile, officials claim of seizing vehicles and slapping fine on tractor owners but the illegal activity has not comedown.There is criticism that the ruling and opposition parties, which are at loggerheads on political issues, are unitedly abetting illegal sand mining.

JC H Arun Kumar told this paper that rules were being implemented strictly.