AGARTALA, Nov 29: In a significant crackdown on the illegal diversion of government-supplied food grains, Birganj police on Friday night seized 162 sacks of Public Distribution System (PDS) rice that had been unlawfully transported from an FCI godown in Chandrapur to Amarpur in Tripura’s Gomati district.
Acting on a specific tip-off, the Officer-in-Charge of Birganj police station formed multiple search teams and began tracing the suspected vehicle. At around 8:30 pm, police intercepted a truck bearing registration number TR01-Q-1712 at the Nakacherra checking point. Upon interrogation, the driver, Abul Hossain, confessed to transporting undocumented PDS rice to a ration shop in Bampur, allegedly owned by Uttam Pal.
Following the admission, Amarpur SDPO Nirmal Das and the Birganj OC conducted an immediate raid at the ration shop, where the diverted rice stock was recovered. The Sub-Divisional Food Department was alerted, and officials soon arrived to take custody of the seized rice and the vehicle involved.
Authorities also discovered equipment believed to be used for repackaging government rice into smaller retail bags—an indication of a larger illicit distribution network.
Police confirmed that a detailed investigation is underway, and further legal action will be taken based on the findings.
