Sand smuggling: Cops arrest man, seize lorry

Acting on a tip-off, Perur Deputy Tahsildar Shanmugam along with Alandurai police reached a spot near Narasipuram area. They arrested Shanmugam (46), who was found smuggling sand in a mini-lorry. However, his accomplice identified as Santhosh managed to escape. Police, who have seized the vehicle, are continuing with their investigation. 

In another incident, the Karunya Nagar police, who were on a patrol near Mundanthurai check dam, spotted a man loading sand onto a bullock-cart. 

However, the man later identified as Saravanan (42) of Mathuvarayapuram fled the spot. Police, who have launched a search for the culprit, have seized the sand-laden cart. 

The crackdown against sand smugglers comes in the wake of wide spread criticism of authorities from local villagers. Villagers say instances of sand mining on the Noyyal river bed is becoming rampant following the now-lifted ban on quarries in the state, which had resulted in a severe shortage of sand.