Even as the police have set up as many as 32 check posts in different parts of the district particularly in the inter-state border areas (Tamil Nadu-Kerala) to prevent the smuggling of rice and kerosene meant for public distribution system, the smuggling of these two essential commodities to the neighbouring Kerala is continuing unabated. Though the police and revenue officials had already intensified the vehicle check, miscreants are engaged in changing their methods every day while smuggling PDS rice.
The officials seized four tonnes of rice in two separate incidents in the last two days.
Based on specific information that PDS rice was being smuggled into Kerala via western part of the district, a team led by Vilavancode taluk supply officer Suji Pramila engaged in a vehicle check. They also noticed a luxury car at Ganapathiyan Kadavu near Vilavancode. They tried to stop the vehicle but when the car driver ignored their signal and proceeded towards Kerala border, the team chased the car up to 2 km and impounded the vehicle at Manakkalai in the early hours of Tuesday.
However, the driver escaped from the scene. Finally, the team seized 1.5 tonnes of rice along with the vehicle. Later the rice was handed over to the officials of Vilavancode taluk office.
In another incident the police seized 2.5 tonnes of PDS rice from an abandoned mini bus at Chembonvilai near Azhagiyapandipuram on Monday. The police could seize the rice as the front tyre of the bus had deflated at Chembonvilai and the driver had abandoned the mini bus on seeing the police on the way side at Nagercoil-Thadikkaramkonam road and escaped. The police later handed over the seized rice to the officials of Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation godown at Konam. Moreover, a police team seized two lorries laden with river sand when the lorry drivers tried to transport it in to Kerala without any valid permits at Vettunthi near Kuzhithurai on Monday
The police have registered cases and are further investigating.
