Guwahati: In a targeted crackdown on illegal transportation of government-subsidised goods, Basistha Police seized 80 bags of urea fertilizer being smuggled from Barpeta to Meghalaya on Thursday. The fertilizer, procured under the “Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jana Urvarak Pariyojana” scheme, was intercepted near the Brahmaputra Board Office in Lalmati during a swift operation based on specific intelligence inputs.
The consignment was being carried in an EICHER truck (AS-01-MC-5315) without any valid documentation, raising immediate red flags. Officers discovered that the bags of urea were hidden beneath ten sacks of potatoes and further concealed with a black tarpaulin — an apparent attempt to evade scrutiny.
The driver, 33-year-old Sulaman Miya of Barpeta, was taken into custody on the spot. During initial interrogation, Miya allegedly confessed to smuggling subsidised fertilizer on several previous occasions, suggesting a possible link to a wider network involved in diversion of essential agri-inputs.
Authorities have launched a deeper investigation into the case to trace the origin of the consignment and identify other players potentially involved in the illegal trade. The seizure underscores growing concerns around the misuse of government welfare schemes, especially in the agriculture sector, where subsidised fertilizers are meant to support marginal farmers.
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