Policemen inspect sacks of rice with Food Corporation of India seal on them during a recent raid in Ranchi. Picture by Hardeep Singh

Ranchi, Oct. 31: The state government has not been able to check the smuggling of foodgrain meant for Public Distribution System (PDS) and for the below poverty level (BPL) families though they had been promising to do so.

Ranchi subdivisional officer Paramjeet Kaur said the department is aware of certain shops indulging in the malpractice, but they are unable to take any action because of the lack of solid information.

?Although we have information of many such outlets having smuggled items, we are unable to raid them due to a lack of perfect information,? he said and added, ?After many tip-offs and subsequent raids, we have returned empty handed. And we are unable to initiate actions against these offenders.?

Sources also pointed out that there were many outlets selling foodgrain and kerosene meant for distribution schemes and these places are selling them at a much higher price, which is illegal.

Earlier, the food and civil supplies minister Kamlesh Singh had claimed that all suspected retail outlets were under the government scanner and regular raids would be conducted to put a stop to this activity.

But the recent seizure of over 200 sacks of rice, with a Food Corporation of India (FCI) seal on them, perhaps tells a different story.

Sources pointed out that as per the initial investigation in the recent seizure, the sacks were smuggled when they were being transported from Chhattisgarh to Jharkhand and there are many outlets indulging in smuggling foodgrain meant for the poor.

Interestingly, a person who was arrested after this raid had procured bail from court and is free, at least as of now.

The minister had also accepted that the involvement of certain government officials in such corrupt practices has increased the instances of smuggling. But he quickly added, none of the officials found guilty would be spared.

Food and civil supply secretary Mahavir Prasad said, too, echoed his boss. ?I have talked to senior police officers regarding the recent seizure of FCI rice and have told them to order a thorough investigation. Not a single guilty official will be spared,? he said.

The recent seizure happened on October 25, when 210 bags of rice, smuggled from a FCI godown, were impounded by the administration. The 100-kg sacks were seized from a private godown.

On the same day, the sacks were seized, the secretary informed, raids were also conducted in Giridih district and similar sacks seized from a private godown. ?After receiving information, we had contacted the deputy commissioner of the area and asked him to conduct the raids. A detailed report on issue is awaited,? said the ministry official.

On October 29, about six kerosene outlets in the city were also sealed after the food and civil supplies officials led by their minister, Kamlesh Singh, conducted raids in the Upper Bazaar area of the state capital.

The officials had maintained that the outlets were involved in the kerosene black-market and were selling the fuel meant to be distributed to BPL families at a higher price. Singh had expressed concern over the allotment of these dealerships and had said, ?I am going to probe this matter.?