Cross‑state probe launched after gunmen threaten officer at rice depot

Kanyakumari, August 23 — The recent raid on a rice warehouse near the Kerala‑Tamil Nadu border has prompted a joint investigation by police forces of both states. The raid, which uncovered roughly 17 tonnes of ration rice, was disrupted when a group of armed individuals warned Revenue Inspector Dinesh that they would kill him if he proceeded.

The confrontation occurred after a flying squad intercepted a mini‑lorry suspected of transporting the grain illegally. Following the driver’s escape, the vehicle was chased into Inchevila, where the depot was located. When officers entered the complex, the armed group engaged them, leading to a tense standoff.

Despite the threats, the police secured the premises, confiscated the entire stock and commenced a thorough forensic examination. Investigators are now tracing the supply chain of the rice, examining how it entered the warehouse and whether it was destined for illicit trade across the state boundary.