Patna: Cooking gas distributors of Rohtas district have scant regard for missives from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), it would seem.

Hundreds of letters bearing the signature of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to thank those consumers who have given up their subsidy on cooking gas cylinders were found scattered on the road adjacent to the offices of LPG distributors on Pali Road at Dehri-on-Sone in Rohtas district, around 150km southwest of Patna, on Thursday.

The distributors were supposed to hand over to such consumers the letters with the thank you note from the Prime Minister. One of the letters, addressed to a local resident Hakim Miyan, said: "My happiness in writing this letter matches perhaps your surprise on receiving it. I am writing to thank and congratulate you."

The undated letter written in Hindi is laminated on a board with a wooden veneer in a size that makes it ideal it to be either hung on a wall or displayed on a mantelpiece.

"You have set an example of what even an ordinary citizen can do for the society if he is conscious of his duty," the Prime Minister wrote in the letter. "By giving up subsidy, over one crore families like yours have shown a new direction to the country where the number of cylinders has been the subject of politics."

Extolling the virtue of " tyag" (sacrifice), Modi wrote: "The level of satisfaction is higher when something is achieved through sacrifice.... Your decision to give up subsidy will not only bring gas connection to a poor family but will also save a mother from the fatal effects of smoke from wooden chullah (oven). She will bless you from her heart every day."

The Prime Minister also lauded consumers who have given up LPG for contributing to the development of the nation by making a precious sacrifice.

Hakim, a businessman who was to receive one of the letters, said: "When they can do this with letters issued from the PMO, the fate of others can easily be imagined."

Hakim's neighbours Rahul Dev, Kavita Kumari and Dev Mankandey also echoed similar sentiments.

The letters reached Dehri-on-Sone six to eight months ago and were lying in the distributors' offices and the employees of the agencies dumped them on the road recently, said sources in the know.

Rohtas district magistrate Animesh Kumar Parashar said he would conduct an enquiry if the allegations were found to be true.

"I got to know about the matter from the media. I will first verify it and then take action," he added.

Dehri town police station house officer Dharmendra Kumar claimed ignorance about any such letter being found.