Gangs looting foodgrain become active again

Gangs of robbers involved in the loot of foodgrain from godowns of rice mills and warehouses, seem to have revived once again after over five years, committing thefts in the region.

Rice millers, on the other hand, face a double whammy as the police, instead of initiating action against suspects, promptly puts them off on the flimsy grounds of jurisdiction and lack of evidence.

Owners of all the rice mills, namely, Dharam Rice Mill, Ghungrana, Goyal Rice Industries and Goyal Agro Industries in Ludhiana district, from where around 550 bags of paddy belonging to government agencies were stolen recently, are upset that they had to face humiliation at the hands of cops besides suffering losses.

“It is over 10 days that we have been begging for the registration of a case in connection with theft of 190 bags of paddy from our premises but cops are seeking an explanation from us regarding the modus operandi of suspects,” said Sanjay Mittal Pinta, a partner of Dharam Rice Mill, Ghungrana. All efforts to draw attention of senior functionaries in Ludhiana police (rural) proved futile, regretted Pinta. Eighty bags of paddy had been stolen in a similar manner last year, added the rice miller.

Though the Dehlon police claimed to have initiated probe into a series of thefts from rice mills owned by Somi Khetpal, owners have been feeling unsafe as the organisation had suffered multiple losses till now. A few years ago, armed looters had robbed tempo-loads of food-grains by threatening the watchmen with dire consequences. As many as 325 bags of paddy were stolen in two attempts.

In still another case, armed looters had stolen paddy from a rice mill at Kalakh a few months ago and the owner, a senior leader and social activist, had nabbed and handed over the suspect to police, to be set free without any action against them.

Dehlon SHO Pawan Deep said the police had been deployed to investigate the matter after registering an FIR.

Investigations revealed that cops led by then SSP, Ludhiana (Rural), Varinder Singh Brar had busted an organised gang of robbers that had allegedly looted food-grain from warehouses of the region over five years ago.

The kingpin of the gang had already been facing at least 30 such cases for looting and theft and the nabbed suspects included tempo drivers, professional labourers and henchmen had weapons.