License will be cancelled if sand stock is not cleared within 3 days: Udupi DC
Udupi, Dec 11: Deputy Commissioner Priyanka Mary Francis warned of cancelling the licenses of the contractors if they have failed to begin the process of clearing the five sand stocks in CRZ limits within next three days.
Speaking to reporters at Manipal on Tuesday, the DC said that out of 61 persons, 45 persons who have been doing sand mining in traditional method before 2011, were eligible. Among them, 37 persons have already paid the fee to get the licenses and five-six persons were given licenses. Even then, they have not started the process of clearing the sand and others were also not coming forward to get licenses. The district administration has been taking steps to give permission for sand mining keeping in mind the legal issues. But some people have created some issues unnecessarily, she said.
Handiwork
Suspecting the handiwork of some vested interests in delaying the clearing process, the DC said that when the contractors were asked, they have said that they have been receiving threatening calls from some people and warned them not to begin the process. Such vested interests have warned those who have already got the licenses not to begin the process till all 170 persons will get the licenses, she added.
The district administration would cancel the licenses of the contractors if they have failed to begin the process. In future, they would not be considered for giving license for sand mining. If needed, she and SP Lakshman Nimbargi would speak to the contractors and provide them police protection. If the contractors would not come forward to lift the sand even then, the administration would permanently cancel their licenses, she said.
Responding to MLA K Raghupathi Bhat’s demand to give fresh licenses to all 170 previous license holders, she said that there was a provision to give licenses only to those who were lifting the sand traditionally before 2011 and documents have to be verified and given the licenses. The district administration would follow all norms strictly while giving licenses. Those who demand licenses to all 170 persons could ask the government directly. The central government has given permission to the state government to take a decision over the issue, the DC clarified.
The Ministry of Forest and Environment has directed the state government to take suitable decision to clear the CRZ sand blocks. Now, over 40,000 tonne of sand is available in the district and it would suffice the demand for government works and public could also get per unit of sand at Rs 518. The tender process for remaining 16 blocks in non-CRZ limits was under verification, the DC said.
When asked about the letter from the Ministry of Environment and Forest, the DC said that there was a provision for traditional fishing community to lift the sand. When she took action, some people have questioned her due to which, she had asked the clarification from the Union Ministry. As per the norm, she had planned to give licenses to the families which were lifting the sand in traditional method before 2011. Same process was being followed even in Dakshina Kannada while giving licenses. But none have questioned the decision there, the DC clarified.
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Jharkhand horror: Man kills live-in partner, chops body into 40 pieces
Ranchi (PTI): A 25-year-old man, who works as a butcher, allegedly strangled to death his live-in partner and chopped her body into 40 to 50 pieces in a forested area in Jharkhand’s Khunti district, police said on Wednesday.
The accused, identified as Naresh Bhengra, was arrested.
The matter came to light after around a fortnight after the killing when a stray dog was found with human body parts near Jordag village in Jariagarh police station on November 24.
Bhengra was in a live-in relationship with the deceased, a 24-year-old woman also from Khunti district, in Tamil Nadu for the past couple of years. Sometime back, he returned to Jharkhand, got married to another woman without telling his partner anything and went back to the southern state without his wife to join her.
"The brutal incident occurred on November 8 when they reached Khunti as the accused who had married another woman did not wish to take her home. Instead, he took her to a forest near his house at Jordag village in Jariagarh police station and chopped the body into pieces. The man has been arrested," Khunti Superintendent of Police Aman Kumar told PTI.
Inspector Ashok Singh who investigated the case said the man worked in a butcher shop in Tamil Nadu and was expert in slicing chicken.
“He admitted chopping the body parts of the woman into 40 to 50 pieces before leaving those in the forest for wild animals to feast on. The police recovered several parts on November 24 after a dog in the area was seen with a hand," Singh told PTI.
Singh said that the woman, who was unaware of his marriage, pressured him to return to Khunti. After reaching Ranchi, they boarded a train on November 24 and headed to the man's village.
"Under a plan, the man took her to Khunti in an autorickshaw near his home and asked her to wait. He returned with sharp weapons and strangulated her with her dupatta after raping her. He then cut the body into 40 to 50 pieces and left for his home to live with his wife," Singh said.
The woman, however, had informed her mother that she had boarded a train and would be living with her partner, the police officer said.
Following the recovery of body parts, a bag was also found in the forest with the murdered woman's belongings including her Aadhaar card. The mother of the woman was called at the spot and she identified her daughter's belongings.
"The mother suspected the man behind the crime who after being nabbed by the police admitted to chopping the woman into pieces," the official added.
The incident has sent shockwaves among people in the region, with the Shraddha Walker murder case of 2022 still fresh in their memory.
Walker was killed by her live-in partner who chopped her body into pieces before dumping them in the jungle in South Delhi’s Mehrauli.
