Smugglers use ‘essentials’ sticker to ferry river sand

One such move is displaying essential commodity notice on the vehicles. Police arrested a few of such vehicles with sand in Tiruchy, Karur and Pudukkottai on Monday.

Though a few such sorties were successful to move past in last few days, their demand of 20 per cent more for sand led to a slew of complaints against them.

IG (Central Zone) A Amalraj intensified the checks after the complaints. On Sunday night a police team in Pudukkottai stopped a milk van at Duraiarasapuram along Pudukkottai-Thanjavur Highway on suspicion and on inspection found it transporting river sand. Driver M Rajadurai (26) of Nemmeli village was arrested. He attempted to injure himself and was later rushed to Aranthangi GH.

Similarly, a vegetable van was stopped for inspection at Lalpettai in Karur and the driver fled from the spot. Police found nearly 25 bags of river sand and seized the van and bags. Search is on for the driver. Meanwhile, in Tiruchy, the police seized a tractor with sand loads at Jeeyapuram. The driver escaped.

Boothalur union CPI members said that despite lockdown, the smugglers continue to dredge sand. They demanded strict action against the violators.