Dhemaji, Dec 7: A significant quantity of subsidized rice has reportedly gone missing from the Food Corporation of India (FCI) storage facility in Dhemaji, raising concerns among fair price shop owners and local residents.

Reports indicate that approximately 26,800 bags of rice, designated for public distribution under the Food & Civil Service department, have disappeared from the Dhemaji FCI warehouse.

The issue came to light when officials from the Lakhimpur FCI conducted a preliminary investigation into a reported shortage of rice supplies for the designated lifting agents.

It is estimated that the total amount of missing rice is around 13,000 quintals, valued at approximately Rs 5.20 crore.

Rakesh Das, an FCI official responsible for overseeing rice storage at the Dhemaji facility, has been questioned regarding the missing rice.

In response to the situation, senior officials from the Food and Civil Supply department have suspended Rakesh Das along with four other officials due to their alleged involvement in this rice scam. An inquiry has been initiated, but no findings have been released as of yet.