Four held for smuggling medical gear to Lanka

RAMANATHAPURAM: Four men were arrested near Devipattinam with a consignment of medical accessories and petrol allegedly meant to be smuggled to Sri Lanka. Coats, caps and gloves usually worn by doctors and other medical staff were also in the consignment.

A team from Devipattinam police station checking vehicles at Shohaiyan Thoppu intercepted a motorcycle.

The two men on the bike - Abdullah of Paramakudi and Shajahan of Om Sakthi Nagar - gave contradictory statements.

In the meantime, police stopped a van and questioned Nawazkhan and Mohamed Ibunu of Kottiyakaran Valasai who were travelling in it. The police team found five doctors' coats, five pairs of gloves, five caps, two pairs of jeans pants, face creams and a can with 20 litres of petrol, inside the van reportedly meant for smuggling to Sri Lanka.

Based on their confessions, the police rushed to Ponnaiapuram at Paramakudi where they also recovered 20,000 gunny bags from a house.

Police are on the lookout for another van which managed to slip away. Express News