1420 rice bags heading to Myanmar seized
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, August 24 2013 : Altogether 1420 bags of rice, which were being transported in four trucks from CAF&PD godown located at Sangaiprou using fake documents for export to Myanmar, were seized by a team of Pallel Police Station at Pallel at around 11 am today.

According to police, the four trucks loaded with rice were detained at Pallel based on specific information that some traders were trying to transport huge quantity of rice to Moreh using fake documents.

The police also seized the documents for transportation of rice.

The truck drivers stated that the rice bags were being transported to Moreh for distribution to the public through one RK Sanayaima.

They possessed the advice notes issued by the Directorate of Food and Civil Supplies, Manipur which showed that three truck loads of rice were lifted on August 19 and another one truck load on August 20 from the Government godown located at Sangaiprou.

To verify the documents possessed by the truck drivers, a police team led by SDPO of Kakching A Ghanashyam went to the Sangaiprou godown.

The CAF&PD officials there told the police team that there was no record of rice being lifted by the four trucks on the dates mentioned on the advice notes.

1420 rice bags heading to Myanmar seized

As of now, no case has been registered by the police.

However, the drivers and handymen of the trucks bearing registration numbers MN 03-1786, MN 01-8139, MN 01-7979 and MN 01-8545 have been detained at Pallel Police Station.

The truck (MN 03-1786) is registered in the name of Md Abdul Salam of Lilong Haoreibi Turel Ahanbi.

The police have detained its driver identified as Md Wahidur (27) of Sora Chingjin along with handymen Md Wahid (19) and Md Sadam Hussain, both of Lilong Haoreibi.

The truck (MN 01-8139) is owned by one Ashok Kumar Kandu of Thangal Bazar.

The driver of the truck is identified as Soibam Rupachand (20) of Wangjing Awang Leikai, while the handyman as Kshetrimayum Nanao of Kontha Khunou.

The truck (MN 01-7979) is also owned by Ashok Kumar Kandu and it was driven by Yumnam Prafullo (53) of Tera Akham Leikai.

The truck (MN 01-8545) is owned by RK Murthi of Moreh Ward No.3 and it was driven by Md Sultan (29) of Kwakta Ward No.1 .

A case would be registered tomorrow morning after having consultations with high ranking officials.

The trucks have been kept sealed at Pallel Commando Complex, the police said.

A high ranking official of CAF&PD told Hueiyen Lanpao that the documents shown to the police were fake and a proper investigation would be conducted to unearth the black-marketing of PDS rice.

Another source said that rice was once imported to the State from Myanmar, but now the price of rice in Myanmar has soared up.

Myanmarese people near the border procure several bags of rice from Moreh everyday.

A big gang is operating this black market of rice at Moreh town and more than 400 truckloads of rice have been transported to Moreh within a short period, it added.