Kesinga: Smuggling of PDS wheat has been going on in a big way in Kesinga, especially from Munniguda and Ambatola to Titlagarh, sources said.
Middlemen have been shipping quintals of PDS wheat by trains to various cities in the state.
Sources added a group of smugglers was taking the PDS wheat to Titlagarh from Munniguda and Ambatola by Visakhapatnam- Nizamuddin Samata Express. The modus operandi is that the middlemen purchase the wheat from PDS distributors at Bisam, Cuttack, Narla, Munniguda and Ambatola and sell the grains in Kesinga and Titlagarh. The smugglers prefer express trains because they have no stoppages in between those stations. So, they can smuggle the PDS rations without any hurdles.
The smugglers procure the PDS wheat at Rs 15 to 20 per kg and sell it to customers or flour millers in the cities at Rs 30 or more.
MODUS OPERANDI
- Middlemen purchase the wheat from PDS distributors at Bisam, Cuttack, Narla, Munniguda and Ambatola
- The wheat is sold in Kesinga and Titlagarh
- The smugglers prefer express trains because they have no stoppages in between those stations
As there is no demand for wheat in the tribal areas, dishonest PDS distributors at the panchayat level sell the wheat to the middlemen who transport it by bribing GRP and RPF officers in trains.
Despite the practice going on for the past few years, neither the revenue nor other officials concerned have made any effort to stop the illegal trade.
GRP of Titlagarh OIC Mohan Kumar Nayak said he has not received any complaint regarding this matter. However, he said, he will take action soon.