Paddy smuggling bid foiled as vehicle bound for Andhra Pradesh intercepted in Odisha's Ganjam

A miller from Patrapur block was caught red-handed while allegedly transporting farmers’ paddy to neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, even as procurement mandis in the Ganjam district are yet to become operational. 

The matter came to the fore after former Samantarapur sarpanch Prasanna Kumar Pradhan received information about the paddy-laden vehicle on its way to AP. Acting swiftly, he intercepted the vehicle midway and prevented it from proceeding further.

Recognising the seriousness of the issue, Pradhan immediately informed the officer-in-charge (OIC) of Jarada police station about the suspected illegal transportation.

Police Take Charge of Vehicle

Following the alert, Jarada police reached the spot and took custody of the vehicle carrying the paddy. The seizure was carried out to verify the nature of the transportation and the legality of the consignment.

At the time of filing this report, no official reaction or statement was received from the concerned authorities regarding the incident or the action to be taken against those involved.

Questions Over Procurement Process

The incident has once again brought the spotlight on paddy procurement delays in Ganjam district and the alleged exploitation of farmers during the interim period before mandis become operational.

With paddy mandis still not functional in Ganjam, the interception highlights the need for stricter monitoring and timely procurement to protect farmers’ interests. The absence of an official response so far leaves several questions unanswered, underscoring the urgency for transparency and accountability in the system.