Nov. 1: The CID is on the lookout for two persons in connection with the seizure of rice meant for the public distribution system from Boragaon yesterday.

A CID source today said preliminary investigation had revealed that one Mokibur Rahman was illegally diverting the PDS rice to the open market in connivance with one of his relatives, Habibur Rahman.

“We have stepped up efforts to track down the two accused, who are now absconding,” the source said.

Both accused hail from the Baihata Chariali area in Kamrup district.

Acting on specific information, a team of CID officials seized the truck carrying 200 bags of rice — each bag containing 50kg — and arrested the driver, Munin Deka, 26, and handyman Mujakkir Hussain, 19, from Boragaon yesterday morning.

A case was registered at CID police station under Section 7 of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, and Section 120 (B) IPC.

The source said absconding accused Habibur Rahman was the owner of the seized truck.

The arrested duo were produced in the court of chief judicial magistrate, Kamrup, here today and they were remanded in CID custody for three days.

“We have their custody for five days but court reduced it to three days,” the source said.

The source said FCI (Food Corporation of India) and Punjab government were inscribed on all the bags.

“It seems that the FCI had procured the rice from Punjab government and then sent it for distribution in Assam,” the source said.

“According to information available with us, the rice was being transported from Nalbari district to a private godown in Ri Bhoi district of Meghalaya,” he said.

He said further investigation would reveal whether any FCI official was also involved in the racket.

The CID official said the truck driver revealed during interrogation that large quantities of subsidised rice were being diverted from lower Assam to the open market.

“During interrogation, the driver said everyday, almost five to six trucks carrying PDS rice from places like Nalbari, Barpeta and Kamrup districts were diverted to private godowns, mostly on the Assam-Meghalaya border,” the source said.