By TC News Desk
Agartala, 2nd June 2025: In a shocking incident that has stirred widespread concern in the region, 13 sacks of rice amounting to approximately 6.50 quintals were stolen from a government food warehouse in Batarshi, Dharmanagar, despite reportedly tight security arrangements.
The theft came to light on Monday morning when three lorry drivers returned to collect their vehicles, which had been left at the warehouse since Friday night due to heavy rain and subsequent flooding in the area. The trucks, reportedly filled with government-supplied rice, had been parked with the permission of security personnel on duty.
Sources said the vehicles had been weighed along with the rice as per standard government protocol on Friday. However, on Monday, when the drivers reached the warehouse, they noticed that the ropes securing the backs of two of the trucks—bearing registration numbers TR02H-1647 and TR02H-1641—were found to be loose, raising immediate suspicion.
The matter escalated when a re-weighing of the vehicles revealed that 13 sacks of rice had mysteriously vanished from the two lorries. While one of the three trucks retained its original weight, the loss was confirmed in the remaining two.
According to the drivers, they had opted to leave the trucks inside the warehouse compound due to incessant rainfall and flooding in the area, and had obtained verbal clearance from the security personnel. When the weather improved, they returned to find the rear ropes tampered with and the rice missing.
Upon being informed, police from Dharmanagar police station rushed to the spot and initiated a preliminary investigation. A re-weighing in the presence of both police and drivers reaffirmed the discrepancy.
Meanwhile, warehouse in-charge Dilip Lismara and the on-duty security staff have denied all allegations of theft, claiming that nothing unusual occurred over the weekend.
