Ferrochrome smuggling racket busted, 1 held

PARADIP: A racket involving ferrochrome smuggling from the prohibited area of Paradip port has been busted by the security personnel and Paradip Marine police and 87 pieces of the mineral seized. Frequent smuggling of iron ore, coal and ferrochrome from different plots of port harbour had left the port authorities and the police officials looking for clues. On Friday, a truck carrying nine tonnes of ferrochrome from Charge Chrome factory of Indian Metals and Ferro Alloys Ltd entered the port’s  prohibited area to unload cargo for exporting it to foreign countries. During a checking security guard Pramoda Kumar Pattnaik verified the  truck and found 87 pieces of ferrochrome loaded on it. Pattnaik lodged an FIR with Marine police station, Paradip who registered a case. IIC, Paradip Marine Police station Tezraj Patel said police have seized the stolen 87 pieces. The truck driver Sudarsan Mohanty has been arrested and produced in court.