Dealer free after probe delay

MALDA, Feb. 1: Villagers attempting to catch a modified ration dealer, a CPI-M leader, red-handed on charges of irregularities failed to reach their goal due to an inspection delay. Yesterday, a group of villagers submitted a representation to the district controller of food and supplies demanding a surprise inspection in the godown of the ration dealer, Mr PC Sarkar, at Atila village in Gazole. They alleged that Mr Sarkar sold nearly 22-quintal food materials on transit out of 30 quintal ones. The Malda district controller, food and supplies, informed the inspector of Gazole in the presence of the villagers and requested him to look into the matter. But no one inspected the dealer's godown. The villagers were waiting, keeping a close watch on the godown, so the dealer could not make up the shortfall of the present stock received from the government. Police rushed to the spot this morning following a complaint that the dealers attacked local people who submitted representation against the dealer to the DCFS. Finally the food inspector Mr Joydeb Gupta reached the spot and inspected the godown and stock registers in the presence of four villagers who lodged a complaint against the dealer. “Apparently we think that stock registered is correct and there is no irregularities. The dealer delivered materials to the consumers and remaining stock of food materials in godown is perfect,” said Mr Joydeb Gupta. n SNS