The recent seizure of cash, arms and weapons at two different locations in southern districts (Madurai city and Aruppukottai in Virudhunagar district) by the police had underlined the need for joint surveillance by Central and State government agencies which would prevent offenders from indulging in illegal acts, police officers said.
On specific information, the Virudhunagar district police intercepted a private travel agency-run parcel service vehicle about 10 days back and seized two pistols and some cartridges.
Three persons were initially detained for interrogation.
As a sequel, the Chennai police raided the office of a travel agent in Chintadripet and seized banned lotteries worth over Rs.10 lakh.
In another check on Saturday, the Madurai city police raided a private omni-bus travel operator's office and seized Rs.13.72 lakh and about six long knives (arivals).
One person identified as Mohammed Ali Jinnah from the travel agency was held in this connection and remanded to judicial custody, police said.
Complaint received
During the last quarter of 2009, the Madurai city police received a complaint from a shopkeeper dealing with imported goods on Scott Road that some unidentified persons attacked him and escaped with over Rs.25 lakh when he was riding his two-wheeler in the night.
Discreet probe revealed that the shopkeeper was unable to account for the cash he had allegedly claimed to have been robbed by the gang and had even preferred to withdraw the complaint, said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) V. Jeyashri here on Monday.
The shopkeeper had stated that he was proceeding to Chennai to purchase new, imported mobile handsets from a source there.
The question making rounds among the police officers who investigated the missing cash case is: whether the complainant was really attacked and robbed of the huge cash? If the incident were true as claimed, the reason for withdrawing the complaint had to be probed by Central agencies…” officers felt.
In the case of arms seizure at Aruppukottai, the key suspects are yet to be secured by the police.
The name of a DMK functionary in Madurai figured in the crime, officers said.
Southern districts
Meanwhile, a top officer in south zone opined that there are many incidents of ‘hawala' transactions taking place in places like Madurai, Devakottai, Tuticorin, Tirunelveli and Dindigul for committing crimes.
On many occasions, the police came to know that grave crimes had been executed by gangs after receiving cash.
Be it murder for gain or kidnap, the money involved was huge, according to the confessions made to the police by the accused persons, he noted.
The officers suggested the formation of core surveillance teams from Central and State agencies which would monitor the operators more effectively along with the police.
