Ruling party leaders in Narsaraopet unveiled a new business of looting rice distributed under public distribution system (PDS). They are exporting this rice through Kakinada port after polishing them. Police seized 4,000 bags of PDS rice in Swapna Traders rice mill in Ravipadu near in Narsaraopet belonging to YSRCP leader Pulla Reddy.
Police suspect this activity has been going on for the last one year. After receiving complaints on this, district SP Ammi Reddy instructed Narsaraopet police to verify the allegations. Huge amount of rice was seized in the raid carried out jointly by police and civil supplies officials.
How does the mafia work?
Ration mafia has intensified its activity in coastal districts. People are not consuming the rice distributed in ration shops. They are reselling it to small traders at Rs 10 a kg. They in turn sell it to ration mafia at Rs 14 a kg. The mafia refurbishes it with polishing and coating with an oil to give it a look of ‘fine quality rice’. Then it is sold to big traders at Rs 33 a kg, who export it to foreign destinations through Kakinada port.
Nexus with officials
The mafia continues its business irrespective of the party in power. The chain of business is so meticulous and smooth that rice sets out to African countries within one week after rice is distributed in ration shops. It is estimated that 2 lakh tons of rice is being exported to Uganda, Kenya and other African nations every month. Despite such a huge amount of fraud, there is no widespread crackdown from authorities, who confine themselves to registering one or two cases. Regular bribes from the mafia are said to be behind this silence.
