Two more held for smuggling of ration rice

Puducherry, Nov 17 (UNI) Puducherry food cell police today arrested two more persons in connection with the smuggling of ration rice from Puducherry.

According to police here, Dinesh Kothari and Koshy Rajan, the proprietors of Jaya Foods and Maa Foods respectively had rented their godowns to on Chenthamarai Rajan of Karaikal region, who utilised it for storing of the ration rice to be smuggled. Police were on the look out for Chenthamarai Rajan.

Police have already arrested three persons in this connection.

It may be noted that the ration rice meant for distribution through the PDS in Tamil Nadu for Rs two per kg, was smuggled into Puducherry and then to Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra by hiring goods train from the railways. Already as many as 15,000 tonnes of rice was smuggled out.

Puducherry food cell police, on a tip off, seized a goods train with 7,000 tonnes of rice recently. This brought to light the smuggling of the PDS rice.

UNI