4 held, goods meant for smuggling to Lanka seized

Ramanathapuram, Tamil Nadu, Feb 21 (UNI) The Intelligence sleuths seized large quantities of goods meant for smuggling to Sri Lanka and arrested five people, including a Lankan national, in this connection, here today.

Police sources said during routine surveillance along the Ramanathapuram Coast, Intelligence sleuths intercepted two youths riding a motorcycle at Sogaiyanthoppu sea shore on suspicion.

When the police were questioning the youths after seizing their cell a speeding Maruti Omni suddenly came to the area. The sleuths intercepted the van too and questioned its two inmates.

During a check, the police found 2,000 empty gunny bags, five doctor's coats, a large number of hand gloves, five facial cream tubes, five Churidhar dress sets and caps concealed in the van.

Interrogation revealed the goods were meant for smuggling to Sri Lanka.

Even as the sleuths were interrogating the four people, a mini- lorry managed to speed away on seeing the police.

It was not known what the mini-lorry was carrying. A red alert had been sounded in Ramanathapuram and its neighbouring districts to trace the the vehicle.

The arrested people were identified as K Abdullah (35), S Shajahan (35), M Nawaz Khan (30) and I Mohammed Ebunu.

Later, based on the interrogation, a special police party arrested a Sri Lankan national, Arulanandam, from Paramakudi, here this evening for assisting these four people to smuggle the goods.

Arulanandam came to Tamil Nadu during 1983 as a refugee and was staying in Paramakudi here. Further investigations were on, the sources added.

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