"During a series of raids, it was found that rations worth crores of rupees have been black-marketed (in Pulwama district) taking undue advantage of prevailing situation in the Valley," a spokesman of the Crime Branch said.
He said the Crime Branch sleuths conducted extensive raids in Awantipora and Pulwama areas yesterday followed by inspection of records wherein it was found that ration meant for BPL ration card holders under Mufti Mohammad Sayeed Food Entitlement Scheme (MMSFES) has been grossly misappropriated by officials of the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs department as well as dealers and operators in connivance with black-marketeers.
"It was found that various officials of FCS&CA Department in league with each other had misappropriated hundreds of quintals of ration showing it as being distributed among the families without any actual distribution from the depots and shops," the spokesman said adding the ration misappropriated was sold in open market at exorbitant rates in view of current situation taking undue advantage of the "artificial scarcity" of the ration created by a group of officials.
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"The concerned officials fled from the scene sensing trouble and have been summoned to associate with the probe which is underway for the whole valley," he said.
The spokesman said the investigation team feared that there is likelihood of similar frauds being committed in other districts as well.
"An in depth investigation into the misappropriation of ration, its pilferage and black-marketing has been initiated by Crime Branch Kashmir in a time bound manner for stringent action against the black-marketeers and officials involved in the scam," he said.
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