Kanyakumari, Aug 23 (IANS) The Police have launched a search for a gang accused of attacking a Revenue Inspector and threatening to kill him when officials attempted to seize 17 tonnes of ration rice stored at a warehouse inside the Kerala border, officials said on Sunday.
The incident unfolded after a flying squad led by Tahsildar Bharathi conducted a vehicle inspection at Kaliyakkavilai in Tamil Nadu's Kanyakumari district.
During the operation, officials signalled a mini-lorry to stop for inspection, but its driver allegedly ignored their direction and sped away.
Suspecting that the vehicle was transporting ration rice illegally, the flying squad pursued it towards the Tamil Nadu-Kerala border.
The mini-lorry entered a rice warehouse at Inchivila, located on the Kerala side of the border.
The officials followed the vehicle to the premises and attempted to inspect the warehouse.
At that point, a group there allegedly confronted the team and attacked Revenue Inspector Dinesh.
The assailants also threatened to kill the official before fleeing from the warehouse, according to information available about the incident.
The confrontation did not stop the authorities from proceeding with action.
Police personnel from both Tamil Nadu and Kerala became involved, and a coordinated raid was conducted at the warehouse.
During the search, officials discovered about 17 tonnes of ration rice stored on the premises.
The entire stock was seized as part of the operation.
Authorities are now examining how the rice reached the warehouse and whether it had been transported across the state border for illegal sale or diversion.
The ownership and intended destination of the seized consignment are also expected to form part of the investigation.
Police have begun efforts to identify and trace the members of the group who allegedly attacked Dinesh and obstructed the inspection.
The suspects had escaped before they could be detained, and searches are continuing at possible locations where they may be hiding.
The incident has once again drawn attention to the suspected illegal movement of subsidised ration rice through border areas.
Flying squads regularly inspect vehicles in the Kaliyakkavilai region to prevent commodities distributed through the public distribution system from being diverted and transported for unauthorised commercial use.
Further action will be taken after investigators establish the identities and individual roles of those involved in the alleged assault, criminal intimidation and suspected diversion of the ration rice.
--IANS
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