Sand mining: Cart owners held for protest in Karur

Despite the High Court ban on sand mining, the bullock cart owners from the district continue to demand the district administration to allow them to mine sand in the river beds for local needs. They argued that the construction is the biggest source of employment in the district after agriculture and many farmers have switched over to transporting sands after the agriculture failed for a few years.

After the court ordered ban on sand mining and transportation, the bullock cart owners appealed the district collector to allow them to transport sand to save their livelihood.

However, it is said, the collector was strong on his decision to strictly follow the court direction.

Meanwhile, the cart owners who have staged a series of protests, assembled in the district collectorate with their family members and raised slogans. Suddenly, they attempted to get into the collectorate and tried to besiege the collector. However, the police who were on duty tried to pacify them. This prompted into an altercation between the police and the cart owners and later, the police arrested them.