At a time when many belonging to an economically weaker background are facing a food crisis due to decreased income during the lockdown, repeated incidents of black-marketing and smuggling of foodgrains meant for Public Distribution Shops are taking place across the district.

A team of Jharia police on Friday seized around 17 quintals of rice in Bastacola area from a pick-up truck and handed the seized stock to the district food supply department.

Nirmal Singh, the marketing officer of Jharia circle of district food supply department, reached Bastacola to carry out an investigation and physical verification of the foodgrain stock.

The raid was conducted by Jharia police on the basis of a tip off about one Rajkumar Tanti and Pannalal Sao bringing PDS rice from Koiri Bandh locality.

“We have reached here after the information given to us about the seizure of PDS rice by ADM (Law and Order), Chandan Kumar and found around 17 quintal rice packed in 34 plastic bags containing around 50 kg rice per bag,” said Nirmal Singh.

When asked who was involved in the smuggling and where the rice stock was being taken, Singh said, “We are in the process of getting details from the police and based on the information, we will also lodge an FIR against those involved in the incident.”

The district administration is already conducting a drive at the instruction of ADM (law and order) Chandan Kumar.

On May 12, around 80 quintals of PDS rice was seized from a private godown from Jaihind Chowk of Baliapur during a raid conducted under the joint supervision of Baliapur Block Development Officer Ratan Kumar and Circle Officer Rampravesh Kumar. An FIR has been lodged against the godown operator Ashok Bhagat at Baliapur police station.

On April 6, Loyabad police in a raid at Ekra bridge, seized around 20 quintals of rice loaded in a pick-up van and arrested two, both residents of Bagodar area of Giridih district.

On June 26, last year, police had seized around 1 tonne of PDS rice from a matador at Dhansar area of Dhanbad and arrested the driver Ravi Kumar.