Dhubri police foil subsidized rice smuggling to Meghalaya, two held

Dhubri police on September 15 intercepted a major attempt to smuggle subsidized government rice to Meghalaya, arresting two individuals and seizing a truck loaded with the contraband. 

The arrested accused have been identified as Dhananjoy Hajong and Ranjit Hajong.

Acting on a tip-off, Gauripur police launched an early-morning operation in the Panbari area, where they stopped a truck bearing registration number AS-17C-9152. On inspection, the vehicle was found carrying 450 sacks of government-subsidized rice that had been cleverly repackaged in ordinary sacks to evade detection.

“This is a clear case of black marketing. These miscreants are exploiting the poor by diverting free rations and selling them in other states,” said a police official.

The truck and the consignment were taken into custody, and both suspects are now under interrogation as authorities probe the wider smuggling nexus. Police said more arrests could follow as they investigate the supply chain behind the racket.

The incident sheds light on the persistent challenge of black marketing of essential commodities, which undermines food security measures aimed at vulnerable populations.