Biswas Bagdas and Dhana Pradhan, two residents of Kalimpong, said they got the shock of their lives when they found that the wheat flour sold by MR shops under the state government’s public distribution system (PDS) in the district was substandard and contained “plastics.’

Mr Bagdas from Topkhana in the town and Mr Pradhan from Sangsay, on the outskirts, have demanded immediate investigations into the matter. The men said they had gone to Relli, around 14 km from the town, for some personal work on Monday, when they saw a person “washing” kneaded dough.

“When we asked him, he said the flour had plastic mixed in it,” Mr Bagdas told reporters here on Tuesday. “We were surprised and asked why he had been washing the dough. He asked us to keep watching and make a video if we wanted. We did, and as the man washed the dough, out came the pieces of plastic.

We also tried burning the dough, and it burnt like plastic,” Mr Pradhan said. He added that the flour was distributed through the PDS. The duo claimed that people from other places in Relli and also some other areas in the district have also reported the same.

“It was especially MR Shop number 93, which is operated by one PT Bhutia, that has distributed the adulterated flour. We have enquired with more people in most places there, and the case is the same,” they both said.

Mr Bagdas and Mr Pradhan also demonstrated to reporters by kneading dough and extracting the plastics. “Owners of the MR shops may not be responsible for this act. Maybe, the flour came like th is from its source where it was manufactured. The District Magistrate or other officials concerned should immediately look into this,” Mr Pradhan demanded.

The duo later went to see DM, Dr Vishwanath, and officials of the Food and Supplies department. It is learnt that cattle heads have also been dying in most of the places in and on the outskirts of the town after being fed the adulterated flour.

People have reported cows falling sick in places like Bhalukhop, 13th Mile and Bong Busty. “By now, people have stored more than 20 kg of atta (flour) in their homes. What will they do with it now? This is an item provided by the government.

What will the poor people do? They cannot even give it to the cows,” Mr Bagdas said. In the absence of the incharge of the Food and Supplies Department office in the town, another official there said they will soon look into the matter and take exemplary action if anyone is found guilty. “We will soon go for an inspection. If found true, we will take serious action against it,” the official said.