Trucks laden with subsidized urea seized at Khatkhati along Assam-Nagaland border

A CORRESPONDENT

BOKAJAN: Illegal smuggling of subsidized fertilizers through Assam seems to have resumed after a break, as Karbi Anglong Police have once again intercepted a huge consignment of subsidised Urea fertilizer at Khatkhati along Assam-Nagaland border on Monday evening. The police said that the fertilizer was being illegally transported to Manipur.

The police said that the drivers of the truck produced a challan which was meant for transporting Organic Bio Fertilizer. However, on checking the load it was found that the truck was carrying subsidised Urea fertilizer.

"The seized consignment was suppose to be smuggled to Manipur. We have seized approximately 3,800 bags of subsidized urea fertilizer of 45 kg each from five trucks in Khatkhati and have detained 6 persons including the drivers and helper of the vehicles on Monday. We have kept them in Khatkhati PS for further interrogation. A team of Agriculture department officials verified the consignment on Tuesday and found to be illegal," a police officer said.

"We loaded the consignment from a private godown in Jharkhand and was supposed to deliver it in Manipur. We don't know much about the consignor or the consignee of the goods, we just have their phone numbers," a driver from one of the seized trucks said.

Earlier the smugglers diverted these stocks of fertilizers from Assam creating a shortage and depriving the farmers of the state. However, after a crackdown by the Dr Himanta Biswa Sharma led BJP government in 2021, the smugglers have changed strategy and started procuring fertilizer from states outside North-East. These fertilizers are later transported on the basis of genuine invoices of other unregulated goods to avoid detection. Primary good being 'Poultry Feed' followed by 'Organic Fertilizer' and others.

Fertilizer dealers, fake billing racket, dubious transporter and a network of other people are involved in this illegal business. Untill recently, there were restrictions on the sale of Urea in the open market in Manipur in an effort to contain diversion and blackmarketing. The Agriculture Department procured and distributed it among the farmers themselves to ensure zero leakage. A 45 Kg bag of neem coated urea in Manipur can reportedly cost over Rs 1000 in the black market.

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