Over 1,000 laterite stones seized in Vitla, Udupi

In separate incidents, the police seized over 1,000 laterite stones and booked five persons for illegal transportation of laterite stones in Vitla and Udupi on Tuesday, November 4.

A team of Vitla police stopped two lorries at Mangalapadavu in Veerakhamba village of Bantwal taluk. Each of the two lorries was carrying 500 laterite stones worth ₹9,000. One lorry was driven by Mohammed Majeed and the vehicle was owned by Asif Kakkinje. The other lorry was driven by Mohammed Naushad and it was owned by Iqbal Laila. The drivers told the police that they do not have any permit to transport laterite stones.

The Udupi Town Police team stopped a tipper lorry near D’Mart store in Udupi city and found 150 laterite stones in it. Driver Avinash, who was also the owner of the vehicle, told the police that he did not have any permit to transport laterite stones. They were being taken to a house in Gundibailu, the police said.

In both cases, the police registered cases against the drivers and owners for offences under Section 303(2) (Theft) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Sections 4(1) and 21 of Mines and Minerals (Regulation and Regulation) Act, 1957.