M A I N   N E W S

Theft in godown, stocks intact
Lalit Mohan

Ropar, July 15
Investigation into the case of theft of wheat from Chamkaur Sahib-based godowns of Markfed have revealed that foodgrains were stolen by certain officials. The Ropar police caught Jasbir Singh, a field supervisor of Markfed posted at Chamkaur Sahib while he was trying to steal 440 quintals of wheat from the godown under his charge on June 29. The police confiscated the foodgrains, loaded into the two trucks.

After the incident Markfed godowns were sealed. Officials of Markfed form Chandigarh conducted verification of food grain stocks in the godown. Verification despite the fact that 440 quintals of stolen wheat was in police custody, the number of bags in the godown were found to be tallying with the stock record.

The District Manager of Markfed at Ropar, Mr Gurdeep Singh, when contacted admitted that in physical verification the number of foodgrain bags in Chamkaur Sahib godown have been found as per stock register. When asked how even after the police confiscating 440 quintals of wheat, the number of bags was in order in the godown, the district manager said that it was possible that the wheat might have been stolen in small proportions from many bags. To test the said theory the head office has been requested to allow checking of weight of the bags stored, he said.

Meanwhile sources told The Tribune, theft of foodgrains from Chamkaur Sahib has been going on since long, Jasbir Singh who was arrested recently while stealing wheat had been in charge of the Chamkaur Sahib godown for past seven years.

There were two other field officers posted in the said godown but the charge was never rotated among them, Jasbir Singh retained the charge of foodgrain stocks and oil seeds in the said godown allegedly due to his proximity to the former Food and Civil Supplies Minister, the sources told.

Though Jasbir Singh was arrested a fortnight ago and now suspended, none of the other field officer has yet come forward to take charge of the Chamkaur Sahib godown. The field officers apprehend that there might be large-scale misappropriation in the weight of bags and the quality of foodgrains stored in the Chamkaur Sahib godown.

The district manager also admitted that none of the officer has yet taken charge of the foodgrain stocks in the Chamkaur Sahib godown. The role of the local police officers in the theft of foodgrains case has come under suspicion. Jasbir Singh was caught red handed while stealing wheat. However, despite this he was released on bail next day by District and Sessions Judge Maghar Khan.

The sources told that the police had collected incriminating evidence against the accused Jasbir Singh. They had obtained in writing from the district manager that there were no orders to move foodgrains from the godown on June 29. Moreover, evidence regarding the violation of rules and regulation was also collected. However, the entire file was not presented before the court due to which the accused was released on bail the very next day.