Jiri cops crack down on hoarders
Source: The Sangai Express
Jiribam, November 15 2013 :
Even as panic stricken people in some parts of the State formed long queues at grocery shops in their efforts to buy Salt at exorbitant prices, police have, in a crackdown on hoarders, pulled up traders for selling salt at abnormal rate in Jiribam today.
As rumours about the shortage of salt was doing the round in Jiribam since Thursday, panic stricken public of the area queued up at wholesale shops to buy salt at exorbitant prices.
A kilogram of Salt is sold at a price ranging from Rs 50- Rs 100 .
Jiribam Police have also seized hoarded salt at various stores.
It has also been learnt that a kg of Salt is sold at Rs 50 at neighbouring Jirighat in Assam.
Many traders from Lakhipur and Silchar in Assam attempting to make brisk business tried to take advantage of the rumour and shipped in as many bags of salt they could at Jiribam today.
A team of volunteers led by Jiribam Development Organisation including members of AMSU Jiri district, MSF Special branch, DESAM local council launched a publicity campaign against the unfounded rumour.
The team also seized many bags of salt hoarded at various shops and stores of the area.
Producing the shop owners before the media, the team of volunteers reprimanded them not to sell salt at exorbitant prices.
Later in the day, salt is sold at normal rate in Jiribam area.
However, importation of salt to interior areas of Jiribam and Tamenglong district continued.
To take stock of the situation, civil administration of Jiribam today acted swiftly urging the people not to rely on rumour while also urging shop owners to sell salt at normal rate.
Urging the public to remain alert against the rumour mongers, the civil administration asked the public to inform the police or civil administration in case of anyone found selling salt at steep prices.