GUIWAHATI: According to reports, a food poisoning incident at Sivasagar's Bokota on July 10 led to the hospitalization of up to 40 people. As per sources, the patients' doctors feared that food poisoning may have been caused by eating at a religious rite that took place in the Bokota town of Kaivarta. Following their consumption of the meal at the ceremony, the patients displayed symptoms of diarrhoea, vomiting, and fever.
13 patients, including five children, are currently receiving care at Lakwa Model Hospital, while the remaining patients have been transferred to Joysagar Civil Hospital.
On July 6, around 72 people were hospitalized for food poisoning in a similar occurrence. The tragedy happened in the Assamese Jonai village of Shantipur. According to sources, the incident happened following the consumption of "Prasad" by attendees of a religious gathering at a Namghar in the area.
Meanwhile, in connection with an alleged rice scam, the investigators from the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption detained three state government officials and a former Food and Civil Supply (FCS) superintendent.
Moreover, a shocking incidence of milk adulteration in the Dhubri district has been exposed, indicating the sale of hundreds of litres of tainted milk combined with chemicals and water around the area. Local milk sellers who utilise boats to transfer milk from the char areas are suspected of deceiving consumers by passing off contaminated milk as pure.
A milk merchant was caught in the act on July 2 as he was adding chemicals to water and passing it off as milk by watchful neighbourhood youngsters. The young people challenged the trader after seizing the poisoned milk, but he quickly left the area. The youths have demanded justice, demanding that the offenders be immediately brought to justice.
The following senior public servants and retired government officials were arrested on Monday in connection with Vigilance PS Case No. 03/223 u/s 120B/420/406/409 IPC R/W sec 13(1)(a)/13(2) PC Act,1988 (NFSA RICE SCAM). They will be presented before Special Judge tomorrow and taken into police custody.
The apprehended officials have been identified as Bharat Chandra Bordoloi, the former DDS (retired), who is now in charge of PPCs, Mantu Kumar Das, Kulen Saikia, Senior Administrative Assistant, FCS, Sonitpur, and Superintendent, FCS, Md Mujibuddin Ahmed.
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