Truck loaded with medicines seized

The New Indian Express, July 23, 2007

BHAWANIPATNA: Police on Saturday night raided a godown of a medicine store and seized a mini-truck loaded with medicines. The consignment was about to leave the godown when police reached the spot.

SP Sarat Chandra Chau Pattnaik said five medicine godowns in different places of the district have been sealed. However, as the Drug Inspector is not available, proper verification of the medicines has not been done, he added.

The Drug Controller of the State has been apprised of the situation, he said. On Saturday, a citizen committee led by former Bhawanipatna municipal chairman Devi Mishra had met the SP and sought stern action against the spurious medicine dealers in the district.

RAYAGADA: The medicine shops here that always remained open till midnight, downed their shutters on Sunday afternoon after the district administration began raids to detect fake medicines. On Sunday afternoon, Bijaya medical store at Kolonara was raided and fake medicines worth over one lakh seized.

Owner of the store claimed that the medicines were purchased from a wholesaler in Rayagada following which the investigating officers were also sent to the wholesale units and retail units that dealt with the medicines. Receiving information, all other medicine shops in the area were closed.