325 bags of PDS rice seized at Patradevi, 4 arrested

325 bags of PDS rice seized at Patradevi, 4 arrested
HERALD CORRESPONDENT
PORVORIM, DEC 9
Pernem Police and Mapusa Police in a joint operation on Thursday afternoon seized 325 bags of PDS rice worth Rs 1.27 lakh at Patradevi.
Pernem Police have arrested four persons and seized the vehicle which was used to transport 8 tonnes of rice from Mapusa to Vapoli-Sawantwadi in Maharashtra.
According to Mapusa DySP Sammy Tavares, after he received a telephone call from an unknown person stating that a blue-coloured Canter (MH-07-1936) is likely to cross the Goa border with rice on Thursdays, Tavares immediately instructed all the police stations at the Goa border to keep a watch on the vehicle.
DySP Tavares also asked the police stations to carry out search of the vehicle and to detain it, as soon as it arrives at the border.
After police stationed at Patradevi informed Pernem Police Inspector Uttam Raut Dessai that the vehicle has arrived at Patradevi, PI Dessai rushed to the spot and inspected the goods in the vehicle.
“The vehicle contained 8 tonnes of rice and the driver did not possess the required documents. On enquiry, it was revealed that the rice was dispatched by Devendra Shinde, owner of fair price shop in Khorlim-Mapusa, to canter driver Satish Dattaram Gawas of Vapoli-Sawantawadi.
As per the instructions of DySP Tavares, PI Dessai attached the vehicle containing 325 bags of rice and arrested vehicle driver Vijay Mahale, cleaner Umesh Shirodker, both from Sawantwadi, Devendra Shinde, owner of fair price shop in Khorlim and vehicle owner Satish Gawas.
Pernem Police registered the offence under Sections 3 and 7 of Essential Commodities Act and Sections 120/B, 407 and 420 of IPC for hatching a conspiracy, misappropriation of food meant for poor people and cheating the public.
The four accused will be produced before the Judicial Magistrate on Friday. PI Dessai is investigating the case under the guidance of DySP Tavares.