Date:17/12/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/12/17/stories/2006121714750400.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

4 women held, 2,500 kg PDS rice seized

Staff Reporter

On charges of smuggling ration rice to Andhra Pradesh

BIG SEIZURE: Police personnel check the rice consignment which they seized at Central Railway station on Friday. — Photo: K.V. Srinivasan

CHENNAI : The railway police on Friday arrested four women from the Central Railway Station on charges of smuggling ration rice to Andhra Pradesh and seized 2,500 kg of rice.

The police said the women purchased ration rice at Rs.4 a kg. (it is sold for Rs.2 a kg. in PDS shops) from various sources and smuggled them in trains to the neighbouring State in gunny bags.

Railway police Inspector General of Police I Raja, DIG of Police Karuna Sagar, SP Anne Vijaya and their team of officers had ordered stringent action against smugglers. Various teams have been formed to nab the culprits.

Acting on a tip-off on Friday, a special party led by Inspector Periasamy arrested Selvi (27) of Tondiarpet, Dharani (37), Sengamalam (45) and Moothevammal (51) of Sulurpet Andhra Pradesh at the Central station.

Based on their confession, the special party registered a case under the Essential Commodities Act and the Tamil Nadu Food Transport Act. The smuggled rice was seized.