Student allegedly tortured, given electric shocks for complaining about illegal sand mining

BELAGAVI: A college student was allegedly tortured and administered electric shocks by the police after the informed the authorities about illegal sand mining near his village on the banks of the Malaprabha river. The incident, which occurred on June 6, has come to light only now.

A truck filled with sand going through a village road.

Siddappa Hirur, a resident of Teggihalli village, had called the then Savadatti tahsildar Prashant Patil, police and Mines and Geology Department officials to inform them about the illegal sand mining going on near his village. However, the then tahsildar lodged a complaint against Siddappa alleging that he used foul language while speaking on the phone.

A tractor carrying sand.

Based on Patil’s complaint, the police arrested Siddappa and allegedly tortured him. They even gave him electric shocks and threatened him of life. The student had to spend three days in the Bailahongal sub-jail before he was released on bail. The police even took away his mobile phone.

Sand mined allegedly illegally.

Siddappa told Public TV that the police questioned him why he wanted to fight against corruption. Influential people are indulging in illegal sand mining, he said.

Siddappa Hirur, a college student who complained about illegal sand mining.

Siddappa and the Karnataka Rakshana Samiti staged a protest and has submitted a memorandum to the Belagavi deputy commissioner and SP demanding action against Prashant Patil, Savadatti CPI Manjunath Naduvinamani and other staff.