Date:02/09/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/09/02/stories/2006090221370500.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Smuggling of PDS rice curbed: police

Staff Reporter

CHENNAI : The smuggling of PDS rice to neighbouring States has been curbed, because of sustained checks on specific routes and tight vigil over rice smuggling, the Civil Supplies CID police has said. The drive has helped the Civil Supplies CID police to seize PDS rice in Chennai city and surrounding districts.

Between January and August 2006, the police had impounded 92 vehicles valued at Rs 40.56 crore, which include 55 lorries and 37 autorickshaws in Chennai city, Vellore, Tiruvallur, Tiruvannamalai and Kancheepuram districts. During the raids, police seized 810 tons of rice meant for distribution through PDS outlets worth Rs 97 lakh and 1,200 litres of kerosene valued at Rs 1.97 lakh. Six persons who were found to be habitual offenders were detained under the Goondas Act.

The police seized 60 bags of rice from a house in Vyasarpadi in the city on Thursday and arrested Selvarajan (37) of Shastri Nagar, who had allegedly hoarded the PDS rice.

A senior officer said on Friday the raids during the last eight months in Chennai city and four neighbouring districts had curbed smuggling of rice to Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh from Vellore and Chennai greatly.