Wheat embezzlement at Pungrain store in Moga

Tribune News Service

Moga, May 3

A case of siphoning off wheat from a private storehouse of Pungrain, a state-owned food procurement agency, has come to light in the district.

After a video of modus-operandi adopted by some labourers to steal the grain surfaced on social media, Principal Secretary, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, KAP Sinha, asked Deputy Director Luvkesh Sharma to probe the matter.

Sharma said: “I have sent a report to the government for further action.” Sharma found that wheat was stolen by labourers from the storehouse situated in a rice mill at Dharamkot.

As per the report, when wheat was transported to the storehouse, the labourers engaged in unloading used to make a hole in the gunny bags through which 1-2 kg grain fell on the ground. Later, they filled the grain in bags and transported it out of the storehouse.

There are reports that local officials of the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs and owners of the rice mill were involved in the embezzlement.