Protest forces action against ration dealer

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Nov 21: The additional district magistrate Mr PC Shit has instructed the district controller of food and supplies to take stern action against a modified ration dealer, Mr Binoy Choudhury, based on public complaints. Ninety people submitted written complaints against the dealer in the third week of October but no inquiry was started against him. It was alleged the dealer used to sell rice to the people who were below the poverty line at Rs 9 per kg when the government rate was only Rs 3 under Antyadaya Yojona for BPL group. It may be noted that hundreds of backward class people protested in front of Habibpur block development office yesterday demanding that Mr Choudhury be punished. The Habibpur block development officer controlled the angry mob yesterday evening by assuring people that "we (administration) would take action against the dealer within two days". Talking to the people and going through their complaints, the BDO reported the matter to the Malda SDO, seeking serious administrative intervention because he had forwarded the complaints to the food department in October but no action was taken. The Malda sub divisional officer, Mrs Arunima De and the additional district magistrate Mr PC Shit both talked to the district food controller yesterday to start an inquiry against the dealer. Mr Shit reportedly told the district controller that the civic administration would not interfere with their departmental system of inquiry but "nobody will be spared if anyone is found guilty". The district controller argued that since he (Mr Choudhury) was ill and hospitalised, no action could be taken against him. "We would take action when he resumes his charges," said the district controller. Mrs De said: “At present the dealer is not in the hospital. Tactfully, he took admission in the district hospital to avoid inquiry and punishment. The food department has been asked to take stern action against the dealer if he is found guilty.”