Police complaint filed over ‘missing’ ration quota at Benaulim

Colva: A police complaint has been filed over ‘missing’ quotas of rice and wheat — 23,000kg and 6,600kg respectively — from a fair price shop at Benaulim.
Cruz Fernandes from Benaulim and Santana Piedade Afonso from Cuncolim filed the complaint against 11 individuals for dishonesty, fraud, cheating and theft. They have named an ex-panch and a Congress functionary, besides the fair price shop allottee and other persons as suspects in the matter.
In their complaint, they alleged that the fair price shop allottee and other accused caused a shortfall of grains meant for the public distribution system and sold these to select individuals at a higher price.
Colva police inspector Therron D’Costa told TOI that he has not yet registered any offence, but based on the complaint, he has asked the civil supplies department for an inspection and audit reports. Following complaints from Benaulim villagers, MLA Venzy Viegas recently inspected the fair price outlet and found a shortfall of 23,000 kg of rice and 6,600 kg of wheat at its godown.
Civil supplies inspector Ramkrishna Salgaonkar, who was present during the inspection, had confirmed that the department had supplied the stock to the outlet and that he would submit his report to the department for further action.To a query regarding police action in the matter, Salgaonkar had said that ration card holders from the village have to lodge the complaint.