Mob ‘loots’ truckload of flour

Police launch probe, say culprits to be brought to book

RAWALPINDI:

Skyrocketing inflation, rampant unemployment, and growing poverty created a law and order situation when a mob, comprising mainly of residents of the Ashraf Colony area of the garrison city looted a flour-loaded truck within the limits of the Saddar Beroni Police Station on Friday.

According to eyewitnesses, free flour was being distributed at a distribution point in Ashraf Colony when a ruckus led to a stampede and people looted away every sack of flour. They said the distribution team fled the scene after the situation got worse. Eyewitnesses further said the police failed to show up on time.

Meanwhile, the Saddar Beroni police said in a statement that they have launched an investigation into the incident and that culprits would be held to account soon. They said a preliminary investigation is being conducted using the mobile footage of the incident.

According to SP Saddar Nabeel Khokhar, police personnel have been deployed at every location where free flour is being distributed. The police are ensuring the security of the freights.

On the other hand, the Punjab Food Authority (PFA) has said that it will launch a massive operation against people involved in adulterating milk, beverages, spices, ghee, cooking oil, and bakery items.

According to sources, the police will collaborate with food safety teams to conduct the raids.

They said food safety teams have gathered information about bootleggers based in the garrison city. Officials said adulterers have stepped up their production with the advent of the holy month of Ramazan.

Earlier, authorities concerned sealed a factory involved in manufacturing substandard beverages.

Authorities reported that 7,000 litres of adulterated beverages from the facility were destroyed, and a case has been registered against the owner.

Moreover, around 250kgs of bogus packaging material, 500 empty bottles, packing machinery, sugar syrup, food colours, and chemicals were seized, they added. Official said that fake labels of well-known companies were used in the packaging of the beverages.

A similar raid was conducted in the Zahoorabad area where food safety teams seized another facility involved in manufacturing inferior-quality spices. During the raid, 750 kgs of unhealthy spices, a packaging machine, a mixer, fake labels, and other goods were confiscated. Official said that the accused used to supply these spices to the market by altering the date.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 25^th, 2023.