Two trucks filled with PDS sugar netted while being smuggled to Burma
Erabot to crack whip, After Urea, it is now sugar on cartel's list
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 23 2010: Amidst widespread discontent-ment over the sale of PDS items in black markets, two truck loads of PDS items being taken to Moreh secretly have been caught today.

Meanwhile, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Minister, Y Erabot has asked the relevant department to take up befitting actions against all those involved.

A reliable source informed that during the prolonged economic blockade imposed to protest the holding of the election to the ADCs under the 3rd Amendment of 2008, several trucks fully loaded with essential commodities were taken to Moreh.

The unusual movement of trucks between Imphal and Moreh aroused suspicion among security personnel manning security check posts between Imphal and Pallel whether the trucks were carrying PDS items or not.

CAFPD Minister Y Erabot personally checking the sugar that was meant for smuggling

Amidst the nagging suspicion, two fully loaded trucks heading for Moreh from Imphal were halted by some IRB personnel posted at Wangjing in the morning of August 21. The two trucks having registration numbers MN01-7252 and MN01-7108 belong to one transporter, Kuber.

On checking, the trucks were found fully loaded with sugar meant for PDS item controlled by the Government.

To ascertain as to how the PDS item was being transported, the IRB personnel detained the trucks.

In the meantime, a team of Thoubal Police came there and took away the trucks.

The two trucks are in the custody of Thoubal police.

While talking to Budhi, driver of the truck having registration number MN01-7108 today with this reporter, it has been established that both the trucks belong to one Elangbam Kuber.

The two truck loads of sugar were collected from different shops located at Paona Keithel and Thangal Keithel on August 20 .

The two trucks were dispatched to Moreh on the next day but they were intercepted by the IRB personnel at Wangjing.

What is strange was the claim of Budhi that they possessed challans for the sugar collected in different quantities from shops owned by non-locals.

He went on to say that the challans were showed to the IRB personnel who intercepted them.

Speaking to The Sangai Express, the 2nd OC of Thoubal Police said that several challans for 10/20 bags of sugar were found in possession of the drivers.

Saying that enquiry has been conducted into the incident, the 2nd OC informed that report of the enquiry is being examined at the level of SP.

On learning about the attempt to take sugar to Moreh which is included in the list of PDS items, CAF&PD Minister Y Erabot visited Thoubal police station this afternoon.

The Minister also checked a sample of the sugar loaded in truck no MN01-7108 .

He also collected photo copies of the challans and seizure documents.

Erabot said that the sugar loaded in the two trucks have been seized while the department has been instructed to take up necessary actions.

He categorically stated that the sugar being transported in the two trucks was PDS sugar, not commercial sugar.