Maha: 6 persons booked for illegal sand mining in Akola

Six persons were booked on Saturday afternoon for illegal mining sand in the Katepurna river basin in Maharashtra's Akola district, an official said.

He said the act could have affected the safety of a road bridge on the highway connecting Akola to Amravati.

"We detained two persons while four others managed to flee. All six are from Kurankhed village within Borgaon Manju police station limits," he added.

Mining rules in the state prohibit sand excavation within 600 metres of any road or rail bridge as such activity could weaken the structure's foundation and lead to a collapse, the official said.

District mining officer Atul Doad said police have registered a case under section 431 of the IPC pertaining to mischief by injury to public road, bridge, river or channel, and have also invoked provisions of the Maharashtra Land Revenue Code.