Cops seize 500 kg plastic-coated green peas, 1 arrested

SNS, Siliguri, 10 March 2017: Detective Department (DD) under Siliguri Metropolitan Police (SNIP) arrested one person and seized 500 kilograms of plastic-coated green peas during a raid at Ward No - 4, Gwalapatty in Siliguri today.

The team led by DD, deputy commissioner of police, zone 1, Mr Sunil Yadav, raided the house of the accused Mr Daya Yadav (42), resident of Ward no 4, Gwalapatty, and seized the consignment of plastic-coated peas.

Mr Yadav said, 'The raid was based upon prior information. Plastic-coated peas, which is inedible, was being packaged and manufactured at Gwala patty itself, though the address in the packaging mentions Papiya Para, Jalpaiguri. Apart from that,we have seized biscuits and its raw materials, which were also being prepared. We noticed that the yeast being used to prepare the biscuits were industrial grade and non-edible. We will send it for a lab test".

"The accused first claimed that the pea bears rice powder coating, but in course of our investigation, it was revealed to be plastic. The accused had secured a Siliguri Municipal Corporation trade license in the name of his wife Asha Yadav. However, the trade license was strictly for sales purpose and did not carry any manufacturing permission," added Mr Yadav.

The raw plastic and industrial grade yeast was being procured from Bangalore, Karnatak.

A case has been registered under the Food Adulteration Act.