Sand, rice seized

Vehicle checks in the rural police limits early on Monday led to the seizure of sand and rice being smuggled to Kerala.

According to a press release, a team intercepted three lorries with Karnataka registration at Govindanaickenur and found that sand was being smuggled in these vehicles.

The drivers of the vehicles, D. Devaran (29), D. Prabhu (24) and S. Saravanan (33) and cleaners N. Perumal (24) and M. Karunakaran (22) were arrested.

Another police team at Mangalakaraipudur intercepted a van and seized from it 40 bags of rice meant for supply under the public distribution system.

Police said the rice was being smuggled to Kerala.

The driver of the vehicle, S. David (35) was arrested.

On information provided by him, police searched the house of M. Ganesan of Karamadai and found 60 bags of rice. Police arrested S. Mohanraj (34), M. Selvam (35), M. Veerabadhran (32), S. Ayyasamy (38) and S. Thangaraj (65) for their alleged role in rice smuggling.