A 33-year-old man was arrested by Vaniyambadi Taluk police near Jolarpet town in Tirupattur for illegal sand mining from the dry river bed of Palar on Thursday.

Police said the arrested person was identified as G. Saravanan, a resident of Vaniyambadi. Initial inquiry revealed that special teams were formed in the district to prevent illegal sand mining, smuggling of ganja and other banned substances. 

Police said a police team was on routine patrol on Chennai-Bengaluru Highway (NH-48) in the area when they saw a bullock cart with loads of river sand. He told police that the sand was mined from the dry riverbed to sell the consignment to retail traders. The team nabbed him. Police also seized a bullock cart with sand. A case was registered. Further probe is under way.