Ration dealers protest attacks

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Nov 5: More than 70 modified ration dealers protested against attacks on them following public outrage backed by hoodlums and demanded safety and security. They met the block development officer of Kaliachak-I today, police said. Ration dealers also drew the attention of the Malda SP and DM on this issue seeking their protection today. “Tension prevailed in several places in Kaliachak-I and other areas. Our inspector-in-charge Mr Sagar Saha of Kaliachak police station is rushing in different areas since this morning to control public outrage,” said Mr DK Mondal, Malda SP. The district controller of food supplies Mr NK Saha said that angry villagers yesterday looted 72 quintals of rice meant for mid-day meal from the ration shop of Mrs Baharti Saha at Jalapur under Kalichak police station. Mrs Saha lodged a complaint with the police and a copy of the FIR was forwarded to the Malda DCFS. The Malda SP said: “We need to verify the complaint about the missing 72 quintals of rice meant for the mid-day meal. But after conducting a raid we did not find the looted materials near the villages.” The Malda DCFS admitted the problem in the remote corners of some blocks such as Kaliachak-I, Ratua, Habibpur, Chanchal, Harishchandrapur and Gazole block areas and a section of ration dealers are not in a position to open their shops. “At least six ration shops have been locked up by angry villagers and dealers could not open the shop for distribution of food materials. There may be more such ration shops locked up by villagers but we do not have official reports”, said Mr. NK Saha. According to the departmental report, a total of 16 MR dealers have been suspended after inquiry following public outrage on corrupt practices. Three ration dealers have been asked not to open their shops after public outrage and those ration card holders have been requested to collect their stocks from their nearby but other ration dealers. It may be noted that the department had to suspend a ration dealer Mr Bimal Agarwal in Ratua based on gross violation of government's public distribution system. Earlier the block development officer had taken departmental action against Mr Agarwal following irregularities in distribution of rice meant for mid-day meal. The Malda SP said: “The problem has been aggravated due to interference of political leaders and miscreants fanning villagers in many places where they are demanding compensation from the dealers”. Ninty-year-old mother of a ration dealer Mr Hossain Ali could not bear the pressure of public outrage and died of a heart attack at East Bahadurpur village under Kaliachak police station last night, eye witnesses and local police said today .