LAYYAH, Nov 7: The district administration has seized 800 bags of wheat mixed with sand and straws from Jamal Chapari purchasing centre of the food department here on Friday.

Around 65,000 wheat bags were stored at the purchasing centre and food department’s carriage contractor, Muhammad Aslam, was transporting wheat consignments to Islamabad.

Around 60,000 bags of 100kg wheat were dispatched to Islamabad from where the commodity was subsequently delivered to different flour mills.

The owners of Islamabad mills raised hue and cry over the quality of wheat on which Aslam lodged a complaint with district coordination officer (DCO), who ordered the local Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) office to investigate the complaint.

The ACE circle in-charge confirmed mixing of sand and straws in wheat on which DCO Javaid Iqbal and DPO Dr Muhammad Azam raided the purchasing centre on Friday and ordered seizing 800 bags from the remaining stock.

Dawn has learned that food supervisor Ijaz Ahmed Thind, who is nephew of District Nazim Malik Ghulam Haider Thind and son of former district naib nazim Malik Ghulam Fareed Thind, was arrested by the police for his alleged involvement in the scam but was soon released under mysterious circumstances.

Sources claimed that embezzlement to the tune of Rs2.4 million had been committed by officials of the food department.

When contacted, DCO Javaid Iqbal confirmed the mixing of sand and straws in wheat. However, he denied the arrest of food supervisor.

He said that the report of ACE circle office had been sent to establishment’s additional director for further action against food inspector Sajid Rafique and food supervisor Ijaz Ahmed.