IMPHAL, Jul 1: Volunteers of the Indigenous People’s of Kangleipak (IPAK) led by its general secretary Wahengbam Shanta today closed atleast 15 rice shops located near FCS godown, Sangaiprou at around 4.30 pm today.
During a sudden drive conducted at these shops, IPAK volunteers enquired the shop owners about the source from where they acquired those large quantities of rice. As the shop owners could not give convincing answers and provide the names of the individuals/agencies who supplied rice to them, IPAK volunteers closed the shops. They also asked the shop owners to come to IPAK office tomorrow to discuss the matter. Shanta said that they would find out the individuals/agencies who have been indulging in unauthorised supply of huge quantity of rice to these shops. He said that the drive was conducted to check shiphon-nning off of rice stocked by the Government for National Food Security Act, which had been implemented from April this year. He said that it is surprising to see such a huge quantity of rice at the shops located near the godown.
Shanta said that people are suspicious of possible supply of NFSA rice to these shops by some unscrupulous officials. He said that they would not allow anybody to earn money through misuse of the rice meant for poor people. Shanta said that some shop owners had revealed that some rationing agents dropped five to ten bags of rice every time they lifted rice from the godown. Saying that IPAK would not allow such illegal practices continue Shanta said that they have closed these shops with immediate effect. Maintaining that they would never remain silent on the issue, Shanta said that IPAK would detect the main supplier soon.
