By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Instead of a one-man inquiry, the State Government has constituted a magisterial inquiry into the alleged diversion of the PDS rice which was exposed by the police on Monday.
“Considering the seriousness of the matter, I feel it is important to constitute a higher inquiry into the alleged diversion of the PDS rice,” East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner (Supply) Jopthiaw Lyngdoh informed on Wednesday.
He also informed that the inquiry would be headed by Magistrate M Diengdoh who will submit the report within three days.
Earlier on Tuesday, Lyngdoh had ordered a one-man inquiry headed by Supply Inspector S Basaiawmoit.
Meanwhile, police have detained the former wholesaler of Laitumkhrah area Weston Nonghuloo in connection with the diversion of the PDS rice into the black market.
“We have detained Nonghuloo for two days for interrogation,” a senior police official informed on Wednesday.
Weston Nonghuloo is the relative of Henry Nonghuloo who was arrested along with two non-tribal businessmen – Nitesh Agarwal and Nand Kishore Agarwal – for diverting 180 sacks of PDS rice into the black market at Iew Mawlong here.
On Monday, the Special Weapons And Tactics (SWAT) team of the State Police had seized 180 bags of PDS rice from Iew Mawlong near Anjalee parking lot here and arrested Nitesh, Nand Kishore and Henry, the owner of the truck (ML05-H-6272), which was loaded with 180 sacks of PDS rice lifted from the FCI godowns at Mawlai.
The three have been remanded in three-day police custody.
Meanwhile, police informed that they were yet to interrogate one L Surong, who has been appointed as the PDS rice wholesaler for Laitumkhrah area.