Mangaluru Catholic Sabha demands immediate action against sand mafia after attack

MANGALURU: The Mangalore Pradesh Catholic Sabha has urged the district administration and police to arrest all those involved in the attack on Catholic Sabha president Alwyn D’Souza.

Paul Rolphy D’Costa, former president of the Catholic Sabha, told reporters here on Monday that D’Souza was seriously injured after he was attacked near Adyar Bridge on October 5.

D’Costa demanded the arrest of all suspects in the assault case within 24 hours and also called for immediate measures to control illegal sand mining on Pavoor-Uliya Island.

“If all the suspects are not arrested within 24 hours, the Sabha, with the support of like-minded organizations, will organize a protest in front of the police station, deputy commissioner’s office and police commissioner of Mangaluru city,” he said.

The Catholic Sabha members had organized a massive protest on September 27 to protect Pavoor-Uliya, Ranipura, Thokoor and Kenjar islands from illegal sand mining.

Subsequently, the Mines and Geology Department, in collaboration with the police, had seized boats involved in illegal sand mining. A group of twenty people had attacked Alwyn D’Souza near Adyar Bridge. Further, the group also made threats against his life, he said, condemning the incident.

He stated that the residents of Pavoor-Uliya Island are afraid to come out after sunset due to the strong presence of the sand mafia and the attack on Alwyn D’Souza.

“We have demanded the district administration and government to save the island by checking illegal sand mining. The area of land on the island has shrunk significantly due to illegal sand mining. Huge boats and dredgers were used to illegally extract sand. They also dug two dredging pits, which also poses a threat to fishing activity,” D’Costa said.

Social activist and CPM leader Sunil Kumar Bajal said the district administration should take strict action against illegal sand mining in Dakshina Kannada.

He also warned against holding protests involving members of like-minded organizations if the district administration fails to check illegal sand mining. He further demanded security for the residents of the island of Pavoor-Uliya.