2 held for illegal soil extraction in Bauphal

Two people were arrested for allegedly extracting soil illegally from a riverbank in Bauphal upazila of Patuakhali early Sunday.

An excavator, a pontoon, a bulkhead and the extracted soil were also seized during the operation.The incident took place at around 1am in the Baherchar Bazar area of Kachipara Union, according to locals.

Locals said the two men were caught red-handed while allegedly cutting soil from the riverbank. They also alleged that soil had been extracted illegally from the area under the cover of darkness for a long time. On being informed, police, the panel chairman of the union parishad and village police went to the spot. They seized the excavator, pontoon and bulkhead allegedly used in the soil extraction and took the two suspects into custody.