Rahul Singh & Vikramaditya
Campbell Bay, Feb 18: In second such case at Campbell Bay, today the traders of Great Nicobar got a great shock when they found most of the cargo consignments, brought by MV Chugam vessel, are opened and costly commodities are missing.
Earlier also during last sailing of MV Chuglam the traders had suffered such losses. Fuming traders today questioned the Tally Clerk and the Master of the vessel, who initially stopped PRI members and traders from entering inside hatch but seeing anger among traders, they allowed them to enter the hatch.
According to the Up adhyaksh of South Andaman Zilla Parishad Mr. Gagandeep Singh Grewal, inside the hatch, many cargo boxes and bags containing Milk Powder, Chips, Biscuits, cigarette etc were found open. Even in some boxes empty soft drink bottles were shoved inside the opened boxes, after consuming soft drinks.
Talking to Andaman Sheekha, the Secretary of Small Trader Association of Great Nicobar Mr. KP Murgan today said that they strongly believe that these commodities were stolen and the vessel crew members have complete knowledge about it. He demanded immediate inquiry in this matter.
Meanwhile, on request of Up Adhyaksh of South Andaman ZP, Mr. Gagandeep Singh Grewal the Assistant Commissioner and Dy.SP of Campbell Bay also reached the spot and assure traders necessary legal action and requested traders to register a written complaint.
Mr. Gagandeep Singh Grewal also called the Deputy Director Shipping Services over phone and informed him about this incident.
“I have been assured by the Deputy Director of Shipping that necessary stringent action will be taken in this regard. He asked the traders to send a detailed report in this case,” Mr. Gagandeep Singh Grewal told Andaman Sheekha.
In recent time, twice traders of Great Nicobar have suffered loss while brining cargo in MV Chuglam and very recently the cargo items brought by MV Chowra were damaged due to negligence. “Who will compensate for these losses to the traders?” questioned Mr. Grewal.
