Excelsior Correspondent
SAMBA, July 25: The Crime Branch of State police today busted a racket indulging in sale of spurious cement, packed in bags of branded companies (ACC/ Ambuja) and seized 660 bags of substandard cement and a loaded truck from Birpur area on Purmandal road.
A senior police official giving details said that acting on a specific information, a police party led by a DySP Crime Branch Jammu raided the premises belonging to one Khem Raj and Sabar Singh at Birpur on Purmandal road in district Samba at around 10 pm last night. The shutters of three shops were closed and one of them was open. The accused persons were running cement store there on the name of M/s Lakshmi Traders. From outside it seemed four shops but from inside it was a large hall filled with empty and filled cement bags where ‘Palti’ operation was taking place.
Two trucks were parked there and one of them was loaded. Four labourers were engaged in refilling bags with ACC/ Ambuja brand bags. This sub-standard cement had been purchased from local cement factories in Samba and Kathua area. This loaded truck No. JK02V/9297 was bound for Poonch. The driver and cleaner were taken into custody. Owner of the premises Khem Raj, resident of Kotli was also arrested. The police was looking for another member of the racket namely Sabar Singh. Another truck was also seized. A total 660 bags were seized besides empty bags of branded big cement companies. The premises was sealed and raids were being conducted to nab the other associate of Khem Raj.
After the questioning of the accused persons another similar premises of the racketeers located on Burnai road Ban Talab was also sealed today. These people used to sell this spurious cement packed in branded bags in remote and far-flung areas of Poonch, Rajouri and Doda. The raids were conducted and premises sealed in the presence of Ist Class Magistrate. At least five persons were arrested so far and some more arrests were likely within a day or two, the spokesman said.
He further said that a case FIR No. 18/2012 under sections 420/ 465/467/471/482/487 and 120-B has been registered in this connection. Further investigation was in progress.
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