Police seize 1.5 tonnes of PDS rice near Ambur; arrest rice mill owner

A team led by the Vaniyambadi Taluk Supply Officer (TSO) of the Department of Civil Supplies seized around 1.5 tonnes of rice meant for supply under the Public Distribution System (PDS) from a flour mill at Arasampatti village near Ambur town in Tirupattur on Sunday.

Police said that based on orders of Collector K. Siva Soundaravalli, special teams comprising police personnel and Civil Supplies officials were formed to prevent PDS rice smuggling in the district. During a surprise check in Ambur and the surrounding villages, the team inspected a flour mill in the village where they found several bags of PDS rice. The seized PDS rice was sent to a godown maintained by the Department of Civil Supplies in Tirupattur. 

The seized rice was meant for Andhra Pradesh to sell the consignment to wholesale dealers. A case was registered by the Ambur Town police. Police have also arrested flour mill owner S. Babu, 48, who is being interrogated to identify the source of PDS rice and its destination. Further probe is under way.