24,000 litres of spurious milk reaches consumers Seized last week, the milk was handed over to a plant for preservation, pending test

Moga, March 31
Risking the lives of consumers, a milk plant located in Nihalsinghwala allegedly sold 24,000 litres of spurious milk in the market.

The police had seized the milk last Tuesday in two tankers belonging to a processing company, 'Today Milk'. The milk was handed over to the Health Department for testing and preservation. After collecting three samples, the health authorities — due to lack of preservation mechanism — returned the milk to the plant, owned by Varinder Kumar Dod and Rakesh Kumar Dod

The plant owners allegedly sold the milk even as the reports of the samples were awaited. The reports — the tests were conducted at a government laboratory — came in today and all the samples were declared unfit for human consumption.

Senior Superintendent of Police KJS Dhillon said three samples were taken by the Health Department in the presence of the police. “All the samples failed quality tests. The first sample reportedly had foul smell, the second contained dead flies whereas the third had lumps and foreign material. All were declared unfit for human consumption,” he said. The police said the milk was allegedly seized from Longiwind village sarpanch Kulbir Singh's house in Dharamkot sub-division. Three persons, including Kulbir Singh, were arrested whereas the plant owners and two others are yet to be nabbed.

An FIR under relevant sections of the IPC and the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, has been registered at Kot-ise-Khan police station.

On how the spurious milk reached the market, Dhillon said it was “unfortunate” that the Health Department released the milk to the plant, which further sold it in the market”.

“We have closed the Today Milk plant,” he said. Local MLA and senior Akali leader Tota Singh has demanded a magisterial probe into the incident. "It is a serious matter. Those behind the racket should reach behind bars," he said.

Risking lives

• The police had seized the milk last Tuesday in two tankers belonging to a processing company, 'Today Milk'
• The milk was handed over to the Health Department for testing and preservation
• After collecting three samples, the health officials returned the milk to the plant as they lacked preservation mechanism
• Without waiting for the reports, the plant owners allegedly sold the milk in the market
• The reports came on Monday, which declared all the samples unfit for consumption