Scam worth crores of Rupees detected in food and supply deptt

Udhampur, Aug 11 (UNI) The Jammu and Kashmir police have unearthed a scam worth crores of rupees in consumer affairs and public distribution department of the state and arrested seven persons in this connection.

Deputy Inspector General of Police (Doda and Undhampur range) L T Mohanty, in the presence of SSP Doda Manohar Singh, told media- persons here today the arrested persons are dealers and shopkeepers of Doda and Kishtwar districts and they, with the connivance of the employees of food and supplies department, were involved in selling ration including sugar, meant for the under priviledged sections for the last many years.

Terming the scam as the tip of the ice berg, he said Doda district receives around 3.43 lakh quintal of food grains and sugar per annum under the centrally sponsored schemes like Antodaya Ann Yojna (AAY) and the below poverty line (BPL) therefore, the magnitude of the scam could well be imagined.

He did not rule out the involvment of the employees of Food Corporation of India, as without their connivance this scam would not be carried out.

Mr Mohanty said the arrested persons are being interrogated and more revelations could come out in the coming days.

He said the arrested are bharat bhushan sharma, Niyamat Ali, Viney Kumar, Hari Ram (all from Thathri area of Doda district) and Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Ashraf, Ghulam Mohidin (all from Kishtwar district).

Mr Mohanty said the police is planning to hand over the case to vigilence department as it is involves other districts of the state.

A case has been registered against them at thathri police station and further investigation in the case is on.

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