TURA: The licenses of nearly a dozen Fair Price Shop Dealers from New Bhaitbari in West Garo Hills have been cancelled after irregularities in their functioning were unearthed following a magisterial inquiry conducted recently.
The All Meghalaya Minority Students’ Union (AMMSU) which took up the matter last year had approached the then Dadenggre Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO), Swapnil Tembe, who in turn called a public meeting to hear public grievances on November 6 at Kazi and Zaman College in New Bhaitbari. While various grievances caused by the erring fair price shops were aired by the public during the meeting, none of the fair price shop dealers had attended it.
After hearing the complaints of the general public a magisterial inquiry was ordered and MCS, EAC and Executive Magistrate of Dadenggre Civil Sub-Division, Florina Boro was given the charge of conducting it. The magisterial inquiry was conducted from November 26 to 30 whose report showed glaring anomalies in the functioning of the FPSs.
Based on the report, the licenses of altogether 11 FPS dealers were cancelled of whom include, Rafiea Begum of Bowabari-I, Lutifa Begum of Bowabari-II, Sayadatun Nesha of Shidakandi-I, Faizal Hoque of Shidakandi-II, Sadhan Ch Saha of New Bhaitbari, Amzad Hussain of Morasuti-I, Sayyad Hussain of Morasuti-II, Abu Taleb Sheik of Phersakandi-I, Hasen Ali of Phersakandi-II, Kamruz Zaman of Phersakandi-III and Nur Mohammad Sk of Garodubi. New FPS dealers have also been appointed in their places.
Meanwhile, President of AMMSU, Nur Islam who was instrumental in exposing the anomalies has expressed happiness and thanked both the current SDO of Dadenggre, Rama Krishna Chitturi and his predecessor, Swapnil Tembe, Inquiry Officer, Florina Boro and other officials who were involved.
“I am highly happy that legal justice has been given to the PDS beneficiaries. I am now satisfied as new dealers have been appointed in place of corrupt dealers as per public demand,” Islam said.