Jharkhand: Jamtara mill sealed for ‘smuggling’ PDS rice to Bangladesh

Jamtara district administration on Tuesday sealed a mill for allegedly smuggling rice, meant for the public distribution system (PDS), across border. Additionally, PDS rice was being repackaged in other bags and sold in the local markets too, officials claimed.

Around 32 quintals of rice stuffed in bags bearing ‘Republic of Bangladesh’ have been confiscated from the mill. Though the owner is at large, raids are on to nab him. Officials suspect that he could be involved in a larger smuggling racket across borders.

A joint team of the district administration and police conducted a raid at Rameshwaram Rice Mill in Bena, a formal statement from the office of state food, civil supplies and public distribution department minister Irfan Ansari stated.

“The administration and police team received prior intelligence about the misuse of PDS rice. However, the discovery of rice in Bangladeshi packets during the raid shocked the authorities. It appears that a smuggling racket has been active for a long time,” a source, who was part of the raid team, told TOI over phone.

Minister Ansari said that the mill had long been under suspicion with the district administration receiving continuous complaints about its irregularities. “Although detailed probe is underway but it is being said that the mill is linked to a particular political party. It is also suspected that plastic rice was being mixed with rice to smuggle, which again poses health risk. Our govt won’t allow any kind of illegal work concerning public welfare,” said Ansari, who also holds the portfolio of the health department.

Speaking to TOI over phone, Jamtara deputy commissioner Kumud Sahai said that the process of lodging the FIR in connection with the raid and seizure is underway. “No one is arrested yet, but recovery of such large quantity suggests involvement of an international syndicate,” Sahay said.

Sources claimed that the rice mill owner was previously arrested by Nepal police for supplying counterfeit medicines. TOI, however, couldn’t independently verify it. Notably, Jharkhand began paddy procurement to purchase kharif crops on MSP from December 15. The govt has been appealing to people to sell their produce at govt centre only and not private players at throwaway prices.

This article has been republished from The Times of India.