Over 6,000 kg of rice, wheat allegedly diverted from ration shops seized in Keralam

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The Food and Civil Supplies department seized over 6,000 kg of rice and wheat, allegedly diverted from ration shops in Keralam and Tamil Nadu for sale on the black market, from a house at Parassala on Sunday, officials said. Acting on a tip-off, Food and Civil Supplies department officials, with the assistance of the police, searched a locked house in Karali, Parassala, and recovered the grains, allegedly meant for sale on the black market.

Officials said bags used to repack and sell rice and wheat on the black market were also recovered from the house, which was found filled with sacks of the grains. A vehicle found in the compound was also seized after officials found that it was carrying a fake registration number, they said.

Officials said rice distributed free of cost through ration shops to economically weaker families in Kerala and Tamil Nadu was allegedly being brought to the house, repacked and sold on the black market at higher prices. The seized rice and wheat will be shifted to a government godown and auctioned as per the directions of the District Collector, officials said.

In the past two weeks alone, raids conducted at various locations along the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border in Thiruvananthapuram district have resulted in the seizure of more than 75,000 kg of rice, officials said. The Food and Civil Supplies department will file a complaint with the police, based on which a case will be registered and further investigation conducted, officials said.

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