Bhubaneswar, Oct. 24 -- Residents of Anandapur in Keonjhar district on Friday staged a Satyagraha, opposing the alleged illegal sand mining from various ghats of the Baitarani River. The demonstration took place at the Kargola sand ghat in Nandipada police limits, where people held placards and raised slogans against sand mafias involved in illicit operations.

The protest drew participation from several members of the Keonjhar Anti-Corruption Progressive Forum, including its president Yajna Prasad Sahu. Locals allege that these sand mafias have been constructing unauthorised sand ghats and transporting hundreds of truckloads of sand every day.

This illegal activity has caused serious disruptions to village connectivity due to heavy traf...