FCI rice-laden truck seized in Sonamarg over mismatched challans

Sonamarg, Oct 6: A 16-wheeler truck carrying FCI rice towards Kargil was seized in Sonamarg after a discrepancy emerged between the documents produced by its driver at two different points, with police registering a case to ascertain how a vehicle carrying one consignment was initially cleared on the basis of a challan showing a different material.
The truck, bearing registration number JK02DT-6337, was travelling from Kangan towards Kargil when it reached the Traffic Check Post at Sonamarg. Sources said a security guard deployed by Megha Engineering & Infrastructures Limited (MEIL), which is executing the Zojila Tunnel project, stopped the vehicle and sought the challan for the material being transported.
According to the sources, the driver produced a challan in the name of MEIL which mentioned cement for the tunnel. The vehicle was thereafter allowed to proceed.
The matter came under scrutiny after MEIL officials subsequently made inquiries about the vehicle and sought verification of the consignment. When stopped for checking, the driver produced an FCI challan instead, showing the vehicle was carrying rice.
MEIL then informed Sonamarg Police, following which the vehicle was taken into custody and FIR No. 23/2026 was registered at Police Station Sonamarg.
SHO Sonamarg Rais Ahmad confirmed that the driver had produced one challan at one location and another challan at a different location, with the latter reportedly found to be genuine. He said the vehicle had been seized and investigation was underway.
The police investigation is now examining the circumstances in which the two different challans were produced, the movement of the FCI consignment and whether the documents were being used to facilitate the movement of a vehicle in an area where restrictions apply to 16-wheeler cargo trailers.
Sources said 16-wheeler cargo trailers are generally not permitted on the Sonamarg-Gumri highway, although vehicles carrying cement for the Zojila Tunnel project are allowed to proceed up to Baltal under the applicable arrangement. [KNT]