The Times of India: Hubli: Thursday, May 24, 2012.
Sand mafia, which has occupied the centre stage in several places has begun to surface in Dharwad also. An incident of sand mafia attacking a Right to Information (RTI) activist has come to light belatedly. RTI activist Deepak Rege who has launched a movement against illegal sand mining and storing was allegedly assaulted by four unknown persons in the heart of the city on May 12.
Deepak Rege who runs a NGO Vipers stated that since last six months he has been trying to identify illegal sand depots in the city.
The sand sellers have given him threatening calls asking him to keep away from their activities. However, not heeding to threats Rege had filed complaint with the District Sand Monitoring Committee.
He was allegedly attacked by a group near Kalghatagi road. Deepak said he suffered injuries and underwent treatment at a hospital and had lodged complaint with Vidyagiri police. However, police have not arrested anyone in this case, he said.
Deepak said he had identified illegal sand depots in Toll naka behind ESI hospital, Kamalapur, Tejaswi Nagar and nearby areas. When the matter was brought to the notice of mines and geology department, the officials, instead of taking action against the offenders reportedly advised Deepak to refrain from exposing illegal activities.
It is high time the district administration curbed such activities, failing which a movement will be launched against black marketers in the district, he said.
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