Imphal, November 30: Acting on the report published by The Sangai Express on the large scale smuggling of fertilisers to Myanmar, the State Government has restricted transportation of the item to Chandel district with immediate effect.

A police contingent headed by an IGP ranked officer had also rushed to the border town of Moreh to gather information on the smuggling racket and to arrest persons involved in shipping off the fertilizers.

The fertilizers meant for farmers are supplied by the Central Government at highly subsidized rates but fetch more than double the amount when smuggled into Myanmar.

According to a highly placed source, Chief Secretary Jarnail Singh is reported to have conveyed to the Chandel District Deputy Commissioner to impose a blanket ban on movement of fertilizers along the Imphal-Moreh route as well as within the district.

Following the Chief Secretary's instruction, the DC is reported to have swung into action by ordering strict monitoring at police check-posts to halt transportation of the item, said the source.

The source also informed that the Govt has ascertained, during preliminary investigation, the involvement of some individuals in connivance with Govt officials in transporting the fertilizers citing Moreh as the destination inspite of the fact that farmers there hardly require the items in such large quantity.

As part of the preventive measures to foil smuggling of fertilizers to Myanmar, IGP (LO-I) Sahid Ahmed left for Moreh today to investigate conduct of personnel manning police and customs check points established along the Imphal-Moreh road.

The source also speculated that the police officer may personally inspect godowns or seize fertilizers at Moreh town while disclosing of the Chief Secretary's strong instruction to punish officials involved in the scam and punitive action against the traders.

Stating that the IGP might suggest for stringent action against customs officials for duty laxity, the source asserted that the Chief Secretary had prevailed upon Sahid Ahmed to place a detailed investigation report by tomorrow.

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