Resubelpara, Jan 11: The Deputy commissioner og North Garo Hills, Kumari Mithali Chandra has initiated an investigation after the Achik Youth Council (AYC) raised a complaint over the illegal smuggling of betel nut from Bangladesh through the various borders of the state.
The investigation into the matter was ordered on Jan 4 following the complaint filed by the AYC on the same day.
The NGO asserted that dried betel nut was being brought from Burma through Bangladesh through the Dawki-Nongstoin, Shallang, Songsak-Medipathar, and Rongjeng-Dainadubi route, with the final destination being Matia, Assam. These are then sold to various markets in the country with even some companies buying the smuggled material.
“There are reports suggesting a substantial scale of this trade, involving approximately 12 fully loaded trucks, each transporting around 12 metric tons of supari nightly. What is disconcerting is the indication that no financial contribution has been made to the Government of India or the Government of Meghalaya,” said AYC secretary, Maxbirth G Momin.
Earlier the same issue had been reported by various news channels of the trade taking place with the active support of some people in the leadership of the state. What this illegal trade has also done is to decrease the rate of the local variety, causing massive losses to the farming community.
The NGO requested a collaborative effort by the district administration as well as themselves in an effort to combat what was taking place in full view and knowledge of various sections of the administration while seeking an investigation into what was taking place.
DC Mithali, following the complaint, has appointed an MCS officer Nipon Hajong in charge of the investigation and will provide a report at the earliest.
As per latest reports, the deputy commissioner has been transferred and the investigation will now be handled by the ADC.
IANS