Hundreds of people living along the rivers Damodar and Ajay in West Burdwan have complained that mud roads in their villages were damaged because of rampant plying of vehicles overloaded with wet sand.

"Tractors with sand from the Ajay river rampantly ply through the night, damaging roads. Constant leaking of water from the wet sand-laden vehicles damage mud roads," said Binu Samaddar of Bonkathi village, Kanksa block.

Sources said sand smugglers prefer nights for sand transport as lifting sand from riverbeds is prohibited between June 15 and October 15 because of the monsoon.

Villagers said even ambulances refused to enter these areas as roads were so bad.

"The road is not even fit for cycles now, forget four-wheelers. We are complaining to the police and administration in vain. Now sand smugglers are threatening us," said Nileema Samaddar of the same village.

People of Bonkathi and adjoining villages last week set up barricades of bamboo at entry points from the Ajay to their villages, resulting in a scuffle with alleged sand smugglers. Several tractors carrying sand from the Ajay got stranded by the riverbank. Police had to intervene to keep the situation under control.

In nearby Laodoha, Pandaveswar and Andal too, sand is lifted and transported defying prohibition, sources said.

People alleged that the malpractice was allowed as a section of ruling Trinamul leaders and the police were in cahoots with sand smugglers.

"Sand smugglers are threatening to destroy our homes if we protest. They enjoy the support of local Trinamul leaders and the police," alleged a Pandaveswar villager.

CPM district secretariat member Pankaj Roy Sarkar alleged Trinamul leaders and police were collecting money from sand smugglers.

Local BJP gram panchayat member Papiya Das asked how lifting and transport of sand could go on at the time of prohibition.

Panchayat and rural development minister and Durgapur East MLA Pradip Majumder said he would ask the Asansol-Durgapur police commissioner to probe the matter. "Our government and party do not support illegal activities. Our chief minister (Mamata Banerjee) has repeatedly asked districts to stop illegal mining of sand. I will ask the police commissioner and district magistrate here to probe and take action," said Majumder.

Police said vigil along rivers had been beefed up through patrol and CCTV surveillance.