Srinagar, Jan 13: The City police on Wednesday claimed to have busted a gang involved in the “manufacturing of fake Saffron” by arresting three of them.
 A police handout said: “Pantha Chowk Police raided the house of Ghulam Ahmad Reshi son of Abdul Rahim of Yachnambal, Zafran Colony and seized 90 kilograms of fake Saffron, 250 kilograms of raw material used for making fake Saffron.”
 “The police also seized the utensils and instruments used in the making,” it added.
 Police said: “The accused clandestinely produced large quantity of fake Saffron by dying the  Corn fiber and Marigold flower petals and then subjecting it with numerous chemicals and anti-cold suspensions.”
 The accused, as per the police,  are believed to have a nexus with traders who used to sell the lot to the tourists.
 Police identified the arrested as Abdul Rashid Dar son of Ali Muhammad, Abdul Gaffar Dar son of Muhammad Sultan, residents of Befina Pampore and Farooq Ahmad Shah son of Ghulam Qadir Shah of Panthachowk.
 A case vide FIR no. 03/2010 under section 420/RPC,32 RTT Act ,16 PFA Act was registered in police Station Pantha Chowk.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 13 Jan 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 13 Jan 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 14 Jan 2010 00:00:00 IST