Raid on Balikuda rice mill raises questions

JAGATSINGHPUR: Questions are being raised on the action of civil supplies officials and the district authorities against a newly-opened rice mill in Balikuda which faced raids over allegations of illegal stocking of rice and export to Bangladesh last week.

The raid on Salasar Agro Products last Thursday resulted in seizure of three paddy-laden tractors and rice bags labelled with ‘Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh’.

Mill chairman Santosh Agarwal said, “I don’t know why the raid was conducted despite our full compliance with regulations. We have an agreement with the state government for milling rice, but no official document has been issued in our favour yet. So, test milling is underway at the facility.”