Vadakkancheri (Thrissur): Sub-collector Renu Raj has closed down an illegal granite quarry owned by Mullurkara panchayat president and CPM leader M H Abdul Salam and his five brothers. The official and her team seized illegally-stored explosives, equipment and trucks loaded with granite in a raid conducted in the wee hours of Thursday at the quarry located in Vazhakode.
The quarry was operating under a license for breaking stones from wells for agricultural needs.
Cases have been charged under sections dealing with illegal mining, storing of explosives etc. The police have sought legal advise on whether to proceed against the panchayat president and his brothers under the same sections, as they are not directly linked to the quarry operations. The property is equally shared by the six brothers, but the police said they are examining in whose name the tax was paid to obtain a license for breaking stones.
They also made it clear that the accused will be listed only on the basis of this information, which has to come from the village office. The raid was planned after a tip-off from the local people, who point out that complaints against the quarry have always been ignored, even during the previous UDF government to which Abdul Salam was not politically connected.
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