SAND LORRY OWNERS TAKE OUT MARCH IN CITY

Demand release of arrested lorry owners, drivers

Mysore, July 26 (MTY&KMC)- A mammoth procession of sand lorry owners and drivers was taken out in city this afternoon, seeking permits for sand transportation, auctioning of sand mining rights and release of the seven lorry drivers and four lorry owners arrested by the Police on charges of illegal sand transportation a fortnight ago.

The rallyists, under the banner of Mysore City Local Lorry Owners' Association, took out the procession from the Palace Gate after offering puja at Kote Anjaneyaswamy temple.

The procession will culminate at the DC's office where they propose to stage a dharna. The rallyists, who came in several lorries from the Lorry Stand at the foot of Chamundi Hill, began gathering near the temple since noon.

Association President B. Kodandaram and General Secretary M. Swamy told Star of Mysore that it was 14 days since the sand lorries had gone off the roads in protest against "Police atrocities" on the sand lorry drivers and booking cases against "innocent lorry drivers."

Kodandaram said that a memorandum will be submitted to the DC seeking issuance of permits for transporting sand and hold auction for the nine sand deposits identified by District Administration in T. Narasipur taluk.

Swamy said that the 11 persons arrested on charges of illegal sand transportation were innocent and pointed out that those actually involved in the illegal trade were let...more