Ration violence rocks Murshidabad

Behrampore/Kolkata: Violence and arson were reported from at least four areas of Murshidabad on Saturday as ration card holders accused dealers of malpractice. The governor took cognizance of the allegation and asked the state government to weed out “corruption” in the public distribution system.
Deprived PDS beneficiaries allegedly lit a fire using kerosene in front of a dealer’s house-cum-shop at Punashi under Shimulia gram panchayat in Salar.A large contingent of cops rushed to the spot and quelled the protest. Later, police also detained accused PDS dealer Halim Seikh Sarkar.
People at Krishnapur in Lalgola complained that ration dealer Kayem Sheikh and his henchmen pelted stones and bricks from the rooftop, targeting beneficiaries, when he was accused of distributing essentials of substandard quality. Five reportedly sustained head injuries. Kayem dubbed it a conspiracy.
At Fatepur, also in Lalgola, residents organized an agitation against PDS dealer Rabiul Islam for allegedly distributing adulterated rice. It is learnt additional SP Tanmoy Sarkar had to rush to three spots in Lalbag to pacify protesters.
The dealers told police they were not receiving stocks to last a month, as announced by the chief minister, while customers were pressuring them for distribution of the same.
In all the incidents, preliminary police reports suggest the opposition’s role in “instigating beneficiaries”. However, in Ward 20 of Trinamool-run Jangipur Municipality, the party faction opposing the civic chairman organized an ag-itation against dealer Rahamat Sheikh. It is led by the local TMC councillor.
State food minister Jyotipriya Mullick blamed BJP and Congress for Saturday’s violence. “As many as 63,69,406 people have received ration. Some people (owing allegiance to opposition parties) targeted ration shops in Murshidabad even before they opened. Nevertheless, as many as 271 ration dealers have been taken to task,” he said.
Mullick maintained that although the PM had announced free ration on March 25, the state was yet to get its entire rice quota.
Congress leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Chowdhury, on the other hand, urged beneficiaries to check if they were getting rice in adequate quantity and of good quality. “People are supposed to get the Swarna variety of rice. They are instead receiving a substandard variety. The public distribution system in Bengal has become corrupt. If leaders of the ruling party are given a free hand to collect money from dealers, why won’t beneficiaries agitate amid lockdown?” the Behrampore MP said.