Head. The food looted from the godown of the Food Management and Trading Company at Lahan Municipality-1 in the district has started returning following a stern directive from the food administration.

Rice and sugar were looted from the company’s warehouse on Tuesday afternoon during the Zhenji protests. According to Santosh Raya, administrative officer at the Area Administration Office, Lahan, the robbery incident has brought disrepute to Lahan at the national level. He said, “We had issued an order to withdraw it. Those who do not return it will be identified on the basis of CCTV footage and photos and videos available on social media and legal action will be taken. ’

According to him, rice and sugar have been gradually returned at the initiation of local youths. Some people came on their own and some returned the rice and sugar on Sunday through local youths. Anil Kumar Mahato, information officer at the Lahan branch of the Food Company, said that 71 quintals of rice and 18 quintals of sugar have been returned till 9 pm on Sunday. “The name of the returnee has been kept confidential keeping in mind the reputation of the returnee,” Mahato said.

As per the details, 8,148 quintals rice, 3,220 quintals sugar, 53 quintals 21 kg paddy and 98,815 jute sacks were looted from four godowns. According to him, its estimated price is Rs 10 crore 91 lakh 22 thousand 827.

A special type of fumigation sheet used to secure food has been looted. According to Mahato, these seats are very heavy and at least 10 people are needed to carry them. It is said that only such seats are with the food company.

Cars and motorcycles parked in the office premises were torched during the robbery. A laptop, two cooking gas cylinders and a mobile phone were also looted from the food workers’ quarters.

Before this, the food companies of Lahan have been looted three times in course of the Madhes agitation of 2063 BS and other movements. Locals say that the risk of looting is high during the general agitation in the coming days.