Mandya: The Pandavapura Police have arrested the main accused in the illegal mining blast at Baby Betta that killed one person and injured two. The arrested person has been identified as Sudarshan, the proprietor of the quarry.

According to the Police, last week, one Narayana died and two persons were seriously injured following a blast at a mine and Sudarshan had engineered the blast and had told his workers to go ahead with the task. He led three workers into the mining site and conducted the blast which resulted in the death of one person, the Police said.

Sudarshan was arrested this morning and he has been sent to judicial custody. Police said that he used Megger, air/ gas circuit to conduct the blast as such the impact was huge.

It may be recalled, RTI activist K.R. Ravindra had approached State Human Rights Commission against alleged illegal stone quarrying at Baby Betta Forest Range near Pandavapura.

In his complaint, Ravindra had accused mining owners of violating human rights and mentioned that two people have died due to blast recently and several others injured. But only one death case has been reported so far. He said that one minor boy who was employed as a child  labour has been injured seriously in the blasts.  He has stated that mining is illegally carried out by influential elected representatives at Baby Betta Amruth Mahal Kaval Survey Number 1, Honaganahalli Survey Number 127 and Survey Number 80 Chinakurali Hobli of Pandavapura. In all, 2016 acres of forest land has been targeted by illegal miners who have the backing of rowdy elements and corrupt officers, Ravindra had stated in his complaint.