A commendable expedition by EB, Kolkata against Poppy Seed adulteration. Image Courtesy – GoSumItUp
Food adulteration has been a chronic disease in Indian society for several years. West Bengal is not new in this trend, rather this border state is ahead of some of the other Indian states. But, this time the Enforcement Branch (EB) of Kolkata Police has done a commendable job in raiding a business establishment at Bara Bazar, Kolkata. They did an expedition at the Posta area of Bara Bazar, Kolkata on the issue of Poppy Seed adulteration.
It was learned that this adulteration racket was active in the Posta area of Bara Bazar. The Enforcement Branch (EB) of Kolkata Police nabbed the accused of doing adulteration. Police said that a group of unscrupulous traders was selling counterfeit poppy seeds mixed with Corn grains. They were making a big profit by selling cheap poppy at a lower price than the market price. The police had been aware of the deal for several days. However, special plans were made to catch them red-handed.
J K Daan, a food inspector from Enforcement Branch (EB), arrives at the posta area in the guise of a labourer. He went to that particular factory where adulteration was going on and started bargaining for Poppy Seeds with the owner. He also asked various questions about the quality of the Poppy Seeds. The police inspector was practically shocked to hear the price and quality of the Poppy Seeds.
Even after this, the food inspector kept on talking, turned around, and took out more information about the business. The businessman could not even understand that the person who was talking to him in the guise of an ordinary worker was actually interrogating him as a police officer. Once the food inspector got the desired information, he stopped acting and rolled up the net.
Read: The danger of Food Adulteration is hovering on our head
How was the campaign blueprint on behalf of the food inspector?
It was learned that the officer went to the factory barefoot wearing a towel on his head and wearing a vest – just like a labourer. At first, he wanted to buy Poppy Seeds but later he wanted to work as a labourer for the owner. Saying this, he entered the factory. Take a look at where and how the adulterants are being mixed. There he saw that Corn grains are also stored. It was known that if you want to get good Poppy Seeds at a low price, you will get this kind of Poppy Seeds mixed with corn grains.
Even at this time, no one could know that the business owner was actually giving these confessions to the food inspector of the Kolkata Police. The police were waiting for a short distance outside the factory while all of these conversations were going on inside. As soon as they got the green signal, they entered inside. The manager was also caught red-handed in this act of adulteration.
The victim’s name was Manish Kumar Gupta. He was working as the manager of that factory. Police also seized 86 kg of adulterated Poppy Seeds and 70 kg of Corn from there. The manager of the factory confessed that these Corns were mixed with Poppy Seeds to get huge profits.
The interrogation further revealed that the accused was allegedly selling the Poppy Seeds in different places of Kolkata and the districts. Police arrested the accused and produced him in Bankshall Court, Kolkata on Friday. The Enforcement Branch (EB) wanted him in their custody. A case has been filed against the manager under multiple sections including fraud and adulteration of food etc. This incident shows that not only police, but people should also remain alert and intimate with police departments against any kind of food adulteration that happens in society. People who involve in food adulteration – a basic component of human living, should be treated as criminals.
