A sum of Rs 12.38 lakh at an ATM in Assam's Tinsukia district, has been found in tatters and the culprits are reportedly a colony of rats which nibbled away the currency notes.

The bizarre incident came to light at a State Bank of India (SBI) ATM in Laipuli area of the Tinsukia town last week.

The ATM had developed some technical problems and was lying unused for three weeks. When technicians came to repair the machine last Thursday, they found shredded notes of different denominations, including Rs 2,000 and Rs 500, inside it.

Following a formal complaint by the bank authorities, the police launched an investigation and found rats in the ATM.

Today, police ruled out any foul play in the damage of currency notes worth Rs 12.38 lakh in the ATM and said that a colony of rats was responsible for the shredding of the banknotes.

Pointing out that currency notes worth Rs 17.10 lakh at the ATM was untouched, the police ruled out any foul play or sabotage and asked the bank authorities to take suitable measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.

An SBI spokesperson said an internal inquiry into the incident has been. Among other things, it would be probed, how the ATM, managed by a Guwahati-based third-party vendor, was laying unrepaired for over three weeks.

The inquiry will also look into how the cash, usually kept in a sealed cabinet, were exposed to rats, the spokesperson said.