Nexus between food suppliers, Army officers in Assam Rifles, allege troops

Guwahati: After complaints by Border Security Force (BSF) and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) constables, a cartel of food contractors supplying poor and inferior quality food in the Assam Rifles has come to light in Assam.

Referring to a video posted by the wife of an Assam Rifles jawan of poor quality food served to solders, sources in the Assam Rifles at Shillong told Deccan Chronicle that the video was simply the ‘tip of the iceberg’.

“The entire food supply in the Assam Rifles is in the hands of a few unscrupulous businessmen who not only decide the terms and conditions of tenders but also approve the names of suppliers,” sources said, adding that poor quality of food in the Assam Rifles has been a major issue for several years but such dissenting voices were suppressed effectively in the name of discipline.

Admitting that the Home Ministry was providing sufficient funds for the forces, sources said that a cartel of food suppliers having nexus with senior officers was siphoning off huge amounts of money.

“A member of the cartel submits L-1 bid for the item which he intends to supply, and for other items he becomes the L-2 bidder – in order to support other members of the cartel,” sources said.

They added that this was possible only with the help of senior officers of the Assam Rifles. The soldiers who do not want to be named said that they have been writing anonymous letters to the Home Ministry about the poor quality of food and nexus of suppliers and officers but have failed to draw any attention as yet.

No effective steps were taken to curb supply of inferior quality food even by senior army officers, said sources.

Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, the soldiers pleaded for an intervention from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) to improve their living conditions.