PDS rice worth 8.75L seized, 26 arrested in Mancherial

Mancherial: Police have seized 350 quintals of PDS rice worth Rs 8.75 lakhs and arrested 26 persons during a special drive in a week, said Commissioner of Police V Satyanarayana.

Speaking to the media in Mancherial on Monday, the CP said that Task Force Inspector Kumara Swamy along with the staff, acting on a tip off, raided Mandamarri railway station area and seized 100 quintals of PDS rice that was kept ready to transport to neighbouring Maharashtra State. They had arrested 12 persons.

On reliable information, police also seized 34 quintals of PDS rice worth Rs 91,000 and seized five autos under Chennur police station limits, while the rice was being transported in five autos.

Cops arrested five persons, who were identified as Parvatham Kanakaiah, Mallesh, Gangaram, Mahesh and Bheemaiah.

Police also seized 20 tons of PDS rice and arrested seven persons while transporting the rice in a lorry under Basanth Nagar police station.

The Police Commissioner said that during 2018-19 and till date the police had arrested as many as 150 persons for transporting PDS rice illegally and registered cases in Antargov, Ramkrishnapur, Ramagiri, Julapalli, Sultanabad, Mancherial and Dandaypalli police stations. The accused were handed over to Civil Supply department officers. He warned that PD Act will be revoked against the offenders if they don't mend their ways.

Police have registered 54 PDS rice cases and seized 2325.9 quintals and arrested 198 persons till date in this year. Counselling was given to 150 accused in transporting PDS rice.