Imphal, May 15: In yet another major rice scam, APL rice for five months (January-May 2008) have mysteriously disappeared from FCS godown.

Taking strong exception to the fraudulent practice, FCS Minister Y Erabot has instructed relevant officials to investigate into the scam and to submit a detailed report.Talking to The Sangai Express, Erabot confided that the disappearance of APL rice for five months meant for impoverished families was realised only recently.

Conceding that the exact figure of the missing rice is unclear at the moment, he claimed that relevant officials have been instructed to find out the exact quantity of rice which have gone missing.

Visibly infuriated at learning the new rice scam when the Department is busy in its efforts to pile up buffer stock of rice ahead of the rainy season to meet any eventuality like landslides, floods and other natural calamities, the FCS Minister stated that he cannot side-step the issue.

A report detailing the exact quantity of rice, the officials who granted permission to lift the rice and the individuals who lifted the rice and the vehicles numbers used in lifting the rice have been sought, he said.

Further, reports have been sought from all the Assembly constituencies within a week seeking whether the disappeared APL rice reached the constituencies or not.

Once the reports are submitted, all those will be booked and necessary measures will be initiated to recover the lost rice, pledged the FCS Minister.

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