Assam: Fair price shop owner accused of rice embezzlement in Namdang Tea Garden

Serious allegations of irregularities and embezzlement of government-supplied rice have surfaced against a fair price shop owner in Namdang Tea Garden under the 83rd Margherita Legislative Assembly constituency in Tinsukia district.

The victim family has alleged that the fair price shop owner, identified as Birendra Sharma Thakur, misappropriated government rice in the name of a deceased beneficiary for nearly two years. According to the complaint, Aruna Bhumij, a resident of Namdang Tea Garden’s old line area, was entitled to receive 20 kg of subsidised rice under the public distribution system.

Her only son passed away on June 1, 2023. Following his death, the family alleged that from July 2023 onwards, the fair price shop owner arbitrarily deducted 5 kg from her monthly entitlement without providing any explanation. Despite this, records maintained by the shop owner and entries on the ration card reportedly showed that the full 20 kg of rice had been distributed each month.

The family further alleged that the shop owner threatened Aruna Bhumij with further deductions if she reported the matter to authorities.

Assam Tea Tribes Students’ Association (ATTSA) former leader Bijoy Tanti has demanded an immediate investigation into the alleged looting of subsidised food grains meant for the poor. He has also called for the cancellation of the fair price shop owner’s licence and has raised the issue with Margherita MLA Bhaskar Sharma, the Food and Civil Supplies Department, and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

The incident has sparked widespread discussion in the area, particularly at a time when the BJP-led Assam government claims to be taking strong steps to curb corruption.