Bureau of Economic Offence seizes quintals of schemes' rice

GUWAHATI: BI(EO) (Bureau of Economic Offence) sleuths have seized quintals of rice meant for public distribution under AAY (Antyodaya Anna Yojana) and Priority Household under NFSA, 2013 cards during their raids in four areas in the State during the corona-induced lockdown since June this year.

Talking to newsmen here on Wednesday, BI(EO) SP Longnit Terang said, "We have a team led by DSP Jayanta Baruah. The other members of the team are Inspector of Food and Civil Supplies (BIEO) Dilip Kumar Deka, constable Bijay Prasad and others. On June 5, 2020 the team first raided at Suntoli in Kamrup. The next raid was on June 12, 2020 at Gogalmari in Morigaon district. On August 2, 2020 the team raided at Doboka in Hojai district. On August 10, 2020 the team conducted a raid at Barbalagaon at Howli in Barpeta.

"During the raid at Gogalmari in Morigaon district, it came to light that maintenance of stock is not done properly at the godowns for 371 quintals of rice. At Suntoli in Kamrup 5,435 bags of rice have been seized for their non-registration. At Doboka it has come to light that of the total 75,000 beneficiary families as many as 850 families have double entries. This has been detected in the preliminary inquiry. As many as 644 quintals of rice under AAY have been seized. Under Priority Household Scheme 2,571 quintals of rice have seized at Doboka. The same godown that should have 593 quintals mid-day meal rice has only 283 quintals. The rest of the rice is not found in their records.

"At Howli there is an unauthorized godown owned by one Saidul Islam. The team got 186 bags of FCI rice of various schemes from the godown. Of them they got 180 yellow bags packed with scheme rice and stitched by themselves. Six bags were found in FCI sealed bags. Various items like weighing machines, FCI seal tags etc were also recovered from the godown."

Terang said, "The matter is being investigated. All agents have been issued notices. After ascertaining economic offences after investigation, the team will file FIRs at BI(EO) police stations leading to the registration of cases."

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