Mangaluru: The Bajpe police booked three persons for alleged illegal extraction of sand from the Phalugni (Gurupura) at Addoor village on Saturday, September 23.

The police said a police patrolling team went to Nandya at Addoor around 4 a.m. and saw two tipper lorries coming towards them. When they asked the two vehicles to stop, the drivers stopped the vehicles and ran away. One lorry was full of sand, while the other was partially filled with sand.

Then the personnel went to the Phalguni and found a total of 15 boats engaged in the illegal extraction of sand. Some of those operating the boats jumped into the river. They swam across the river and ran away. Of the 15 boats, one boat was totally filled with sand and eight boats were partially filled with sand. Six boats were empty.

The police registered a case under Section 379 (theft) against Riyaz, Noufal, and Naushad, who were said to be engaged in the illegal extraction of sand. Owners and drivers of the tipper lorries and owners of the 15 boats have also been named as accused, the police said.