KHOWAI, May 19 (TIWN): In a joint operation, led by SDM Khowai Samit Ray Choudhury and food department officials on Tuesday found irregularities in the fair shop number 81 at Vidyabill area under Tulashikhar block.

According to sources, during the operation SDM Khowai Samit Ray Choudhury and other officials found massive irregularities in the ration shop and sealed the fair shop. Later, the officials enquired the dealer of the fair shop identified as Rabindra Debbarma regarding the issue and given an ultimatum of 24 hours to explain the issue.

If Rabindra Debbarma failed to explain the issue regarding the massive irregularities in the ration shop then the licence of fair shop will be suspended, the sources added.

The local residents alleged that the ration dealer Rabindra Debbarma has been maintaining to smuggle the rationing goods for long time. Despite several complaints, the local leaders did not adopt any initiative over the issue, the locals added. As many as 468 ration card holders exist under the Vidyabill fair price shop. Among them, 110 are Below Poverty Line (BPL), 225 are APL, Annapurna 13 and rests 120 are Antyodaya.

It is to be mentioned here that on Monday morning, the locals detained 300 kg sugar packed in six sacks of Vidyabill fair price shop during the proceeding of smuggle and informed to Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) office, Khowai.