Jharkhand News: A woman Public Distribution System (PDS) dealer received a harsh treatment from the residents of a village in Jharkhand's Dumka over allegations of non distribution of ration for the last four months. A PDS shopkeeper was paraded in a village with a garland of slippers around her neck by a mob in Jharkhand's Dumka district on Monday.
The incident took place at Madhuban village under Gopokandar police station area. The beneficiaries of subsidised ration alleged that she did not distribute PDS items for the past four months, as reported by news agency PTI.
According to a India Today report, PDS shopkeeper Sumari Maharani was given the responsibility of distributing rations to the people of Ketopokha, Talkhoda, Madhuban and Dhobachapad villages. She was garlanded with slippers and paraded in the village by an angry mob.
Beneficiaries of all four villages took Maharani on foot to Durgapur after visiting ten villages from Madhuban village, the India Today report stated. The beneficiaries also alleged that she turned them away with excuses whenever they went to secure their share of rations. Villagers also alleged that thumb impressions of beneficiaries were taken and slips were issued, but no ration was given to them.
The beneficiaries said rice was kept at Maharani's house on Sunday. On Monday, when she was taking a thumb impression from the beneficiaries, rice was missing from her house, as per the India Today report. When asked about it, she told them that rice had not come, which made the villagers furious.
Gopokandar police station in-charge Ranjit Mandal said that they also blocked the Govindpur-Sahebganj state highway for over half an hour as part of their protest. "The beneficiaries were pacified and the road blockade was lifted by assuring them of distributing ration on Tuesday," he said, as quoted by PTI.
Local Black development officer (BDO) Gautam Modi said primary investigation revealed that the dealer had distributed only 60 per cent of the foodgrains in May and 7 per cent in June. District Supply Officer Vishal Kumar said that he directed the BDO to ensure distribution of ration on June 25.