The rural police, based on a tip-off received, trapped and caught hold of 4 persons involved in smuggling civil supplies in Sulur town and recovered tonnes of rice and pulses hoarded in the godown.
Coimbatore: The rural police, based on a tip-off received, trapped and caught 4 persons involved in smuggling civil supplies in Sulur town and recovered tonnes of rice and pulses hoarded in the godown.
Chokalingam of Sakkottai has rented a godown owned by Govindraj in Pappampatti Pirivu near Sulur for Rs.40,000. Reportedly, Chokalingam has been smuggling ration rice for the past year by transferring the goods from civil supply sacks to pseudo bags and pretended to be imported from Dubai.
Acting on a tip-off, police led by Sulur Inspector Mathaiyan and squad, cordoned off the area. However, over 10 people involved fled into the nearby Noyyal River, but the team of officials, managed to nab 4.
The accused is identified as Krishnasamy's son Chokalingam (40), from Karaikudi Sakkottai is the gang’s head, Raja (45), son of Duraikkannu, of Karaikudi Pallathur area of Sivaganga, Hari Krishnan (20), son of Muthumari of Coimbatore Koundampalayam and Raja Pattani (39), son of Pattani of Suppathal Road, Rathinapuri, Coimbatore were nabbed by the team of officials.
The cops also precluded a truck carrying 25-tonnes of ration rice upon information and recovered another over 6-tonnes of rice and pulses from the godown. Adding to this, it was also revealed that ration rice was polished and packed in the bags of well known brands, hoarded in the godown. Over 10-bags were taken from the godown. The polished rice was being distributed to nearby shops. Famous restaurants and rice shops were pinned down with the help of visiting cards seized.
The Civil Supplies Division, Civil Supplies CID were immediately informed about the rice and pulses that was confiscated. The police seized 30-tonnes of rice. The recovered rice was handed over to the Pollachi Civil Supplies Department and CID office.