4 arrested for stealing 50 tonnes rice

The arrested have been identified as Deivasigamani (51) private rice mill owner, lorry drivers Kumaravel (45) and Shanmugasundaram (25) and lorry cleaner Asokan (31), all from the neighbouring areas. They have been accused of smuggling rice from the central warehousing godown at Ammanur near Arakkonam.

According to information available, rice from up country states arrives in Ammanur by goods wagon, from where it is packed into 50 kilo bags, for onward transport and distribution to ration shops under PDS in Vellore and Tiruvallur districts.

Police in the food cell were alerted when 25 tonnes rice sent to Tiruvallur district ration shops from Ammanur vanished on November 5. Similarly, there was no trace of another lorry with 25 tonnes of rice, when sent from Ammanur on Thursday.

After investigations, police zeroed in on a private rice mill at Amirpet near Arakkonam, where the smuggled rice was allegedly hulled and packed in 25 kilo bags carrying the rice mill’s seal. The arrested have been remanded in custody while investigations are still under way.