Kolkata, August 25: Amid rising prices of essential goods, the Enforcement Branch (EB) of Kolkata Police conducted raids in several markets on Tuesday morning. This action was taken under the directives of Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari.
The Chief Minister had instructed officials to monitor price hikes, leading to the formation of 10 EB teams that inspected Shyambazar, Maniktala Market, Kole Market, Garia Market, and Jadu Babu Market.
Officials visited various shops to check the availability and pricing of essential items. They aimed to determine if any traders were hoarding goods or charging customers excessively.
During a press conference at the Nabanna state secretariat on Monday, Chief Minister Adhikari assured that measures are being implemented to control sugar prices, which have surged past ₹65 per kilogram. He also warned of action against those involved in the illegal hoarding of rice and sugar.
“We have identified where the leaks are. We will fix this. There is a strong government here. There will be no room for injustice,” he stated.
Reports indicate that sugar prices have increased by approximately ₹20 per kilogram over the past 20 days. Some traders attribute this rise to the situation with ethanol; however, the central government has clarified that ethanol has no role in this price increase.
In recent weeks, prices of rice, cooking oil, garlic, and onions have also escalated. Following the Chief Minister’s warning, Kolkata Police established 10 EB teams on Monday night. These teams began their operations on Tuesday morning, conducting raids from Kole Market in Sealdah to Jadu Babu Market in Bhawanipur.
Traders and vendors explained that continuous rainfall in July and August has disrupted supply chains, leading to increased vegetable prices. They emphasized that measures are being taken to prevent hoarding of vegetables and other essential items to avoid inflated prices in the future.
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