A village accountant was killed in Raichur district of Karnataka on Saturday after he tried to stop a tipper carrying sand during a routine check
Raichur: A village accountant was killed after he was run over by a sand-laden truck in Karnataka’s Raichur district on Saturday. As per reports, the truck ran over Saheb Patel after he tried to intercept the truck during a routine check for illegal sand mining activity.
Patel and his friend Irfan Ali were returning in a two-wheeler after their regular work at Cheekalaparvi village. While they stopped for tea at Buranapoora village, Patel saw a tipper coming from Cheekalaparvi and signalled the driver to stop. Patel asked for the driver’s license and this led to arguments.
Also watch: Village accountant killed by sand mafia in Karnataka
The tipper driver ran over Patel instead of showing his license. Patel was immediately rushed to the nearby hospital but he was declared brought dead by the doctors. The incident happened in Raichur's Manvi taluk.
As per latest reports, the tipper driver, who was absconding, has been arrested. He has been identified as Rangappa. Patel's family alleges that it was a murder and Rangappa killed Patel for doing his job.
The locals said that sand mafia was behind Patel’s killing and demanded the district administration to not consider this as an accident.
In May this year, Hanumantha Bhangi, a social activist who fought against illegal sand mining was also attacked when he tried to record the illegal loading of sand in Raichur, on his phone.
It is also reported that several truckloads of sand were being transported to Hyderabad and Bangalore by lifting the sand from the river beds of Tunga Bhadra at Cheekalaparvi village in Manvi.
Following the death of the accountant, the district administration has decided to take up measures ensuring safety of the officials. The deputy commissioner Sharat B has advised officers to go in a group during raids rather than going alone. The raids should be well planned and a meeting of senior officials in this regard will be held on Monday, he said.
Read Exclusive COVID-19 Coronavirus News updates, at MyNation.