A Catholic Bishop from Kerala and five other Christian pastors have been arrested by the CB-CID, for illegal sand smuggling. The perennial river Thamrabarani from the Tirunelveli district, flows for 130 km and joins the sea. Some anti-social elements have been stealing and smuggling river sand for a long time.
The smugglers have obtained permission from the District Collector for Field no.843, registering 300 acres of leased land in the Pottal area on the banks of river in Tirunelveli district, as M Sand Quarry. Tens and thousands of tons of river sand has been acquired from these lands, and have been sold illegally. An FIR was lodged against Manuel George, the owner of the leased land and a Catholic priest in the Guntur Chetty Road area of Kottayam, Kerala, who were involved in this illegal sand smuggling.
The then Ambasamudram Sub Collector, intensified the investigation of the case, and imposed a fine of ₹9.50 crores. Sabitha, the then Assistant Director of Minerals, who was complicit in the sand robbery, was transferred to Thoothukudi district, and her husband Mohammad Sameer was arrested in Chennai on 23rd January, 2021
Following the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court hearing, the case was transferred to the CB-CID to take action against all the departments involved in the sand robbery, as it was going on to the extent of imposing a fine of crores and crores of rupees. The CB-CID have been searching for those in hiding, involved in this illegal sale of river sand.
Following this, yesterday (5th February 22) the Kerala State Pathanamthitta Christian Diocesan Bishop Samuel Mar Irenios, and 5 others including Priests George Samuel, Shaji Thomas, Jijo James, Jose Sama Kala, Jose Kalaviyal were arrested by the CB-CID Police. They were then detained in Jail, after being presented in front of the Nellai Magistrate court.
Although sand smuggling in the Nellai area have been happening for years together now, the arrest of the real culprits, the Catholic Bishop and priests, has created surprise and shock. The public are now expecting the government to conduct enquiries on all land held by Christian missionaries, and also take action, if any illegal activities are taking place.
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