Paddy-laden truck with WB registration number seized in Sambalpur, illegal inter-state supply suspected

A paddy-laden truck with West Bengal registration number was seized in Sambalpur on Friday over suspicion of inter-state supply. The driver of the vehicle is reportedly on the run.

The Food Supplies & Consumer Welfare Department of Odisha government reportedly seized the vehicle bearing registration number WB33-B-0145 near Satupali village under Dhankauda block in the district.

As per reports, some local farmers first spotted the truck and informed the Supply Department by suspecting illegal inter-state paddy supply.

Upon being informed, the Food Supplies & Consumer Welfare Department officials and Dhankauda block Supply Officer reached the spot and started an investigation into the incident.

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It is expected that the truck has been loaded with more than 200 quintal of paddy. A person from Lahunipada area in Sundargarh district is claiming that he is the owner of the truck and the paddy. 

However, though the person managed to produce documents for the vehicle, he was not able to show any documents for the paddy.

Following the development, officials of  seized the paddy-laden vehicle and it was kept at the rice mill in Kardola Gram Pachayat.

Now, questions are being raised on how paddy from another district was transported to a rice mill in Sambalpur district in a truck registered in the neighbouring state.

The Supply Department has started an investigation into the incident after seizing the documents. However, no reactions about the incident could be obtained from the officials or truck owner.