A special police team in Tirupattur district arrested nine persons on charges of smuggling sand from Palar river, on Saturday. The police seized three vehicles, including two lorries and seven bullock carts, laden with river sand.
The nine arrested persons include S. Manikandan (25), K. Murugan (36), Mohammed Nazeer (37), Shekith (21), A. Satish (32) and K. Venkatesan (35). They hail from places such as Ambur, Vaniyambadi, Tirupattur town and Jolarpet.
Based on complaints from residents and activists, Albert John, Superintendent of Police (SP) (Tirupattur), formed a 20-member special team comprising three sub-inspectors and 15 constables a week ago to patrol village roads, key intersections and border areas, particularly the Tamil Nadu-Andhra Pradesh border in the district and stand guard against the illegal transport of river sand.
