Date:27/09/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/27/stories/2008092761060300.htm

Kerala - Kochi

16,700 litres of kerosene seized in raid

Staff Reporter

KOCHI: In one of the biggest seizures in the State, a special team of the District Collector raided a building at Njarakkal and seized 16,700 litres of kerosene on Friday. Out of the 85 barrels, all except eight barrels contained the subsidised blue variety kerosene meant for distributing through the public distribution.

The team arrived at the spot at 10.30 a.m. following a tip-off received by the district administration. Since the owner of the building was not present, the team entered the building in the presence of the police.

The seized kerosene was being kept at the kerosene wholesale depot at Malippuram. The district supply officer, who led the raid, submitted a report on the raid and seizure to District Collector M. Beena.

She said that action against black marketers and hoarders will be intensified in the coming days. She appreciated the team including taluk supply officers Mohammed Abdullah, S. Prasannakumari, M.P. Joseph, D. Kanakambaran and S. Jayalakshmi that conducted the raid.