Ration dealer Rajesh Ram claimed that he was surrounded and assaulted by a mob while distributing food grains at his public distribution shop. Ram, who suffers from high blood pressure, said he narrowly escaped with his life. According to him, a sudden rush of beneficiaries gathered outside his shop after it opened, and the situation quickly turned violent.
"People started looting sacks of grains from the shop. I had no option but to flee to save myself," he recounted. Ram said he serves 225 beneficiaries and regularly distributes ration under the public distribution system.
Over 292 Quintals of Food Stocked, Only 20 Quintals Remain
Ram stated that at the time of the incident, his shop had a total stock of 92 quintals of food grains, along with packets of salt and pulses. After the looting, only about 20 quintals of grains remain, he said, while a full inventory of the remaining items is yet to be completed. He added that he had recently received 52 quintals for this month’s distribution and already had 40 quintals in stock from earlier.
Officials Promise Action
When contacted, Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Sanjay Kumar said he was unaware of the incident but assured that strict action would be taken if the claims were found true. "If such an incident has occurred, it is a serious offence. We will identify the culprits and take appropriate administrative action," he said.