Srinagar, Mar 12:  The City police seems to have found a reason as to why the mutton is sold on exorbitant prices when it Saturday night seized five truckloads of sheep heading to be sold in black-markets as against the genuine dealers.
 At the tip off, a police team lead by SP North Showkat Shah caught the trucks which had brought the consignment from New Delhi. But instead of handing over the consignment to the genuine mutton dealers locally called Kothdaars, the livestock was heading towards the fake dealers.
 Around 500 sheep were being ferried in the trucks but not towards the genuine destinations, for which, the freight Challans were issued.
 “Bandipora bound truck was being unloaded at Khanyaar, Pampore bound was being unloaded at Safa Kadal, Budgam bound at Sanat Nagar and Nowshehra bound had already been half unloaded in Jammu,” a police official told Greater Kashmir.
 He said the trucks were dispatch from New Delhi Mandis towards the license hold Kothdaars. “But the Kothdaars would get the lot sold to fake dealers who sell the mutton at exorbitant prices,” the police official said.
 Finally, the police informed the Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution department officials who slapped a fine of Rs 12,000 against the offenders.
 A CAPD handout said the defaulter “wholesale mutton dealers are also being charge sheeted by the department for indulging into illegal practices.”
 Officials said the raids were conducted on the instructions of Divisional Commissioner Dr Asgar Hassan Samoon.
 When contacted the SP North confirmed the raids. “See our basic motive was to plug the black-marketing so that the consumers get the mutton at genuine rates,” the SP said.
 Asked why police wasn’t acting against the complaints that mutton was being sold at Rs 260 as against the fixed price of Rs 220 Per Kg, the official said it was the duty of the CAPD.
 Meanwhile, the locals have hailed the police raids even as they appealed the Director CAPD to “try keep the mutton prices under control”.
 Pertinently, the mutton dealers allegedly have access in the corridors of power which prevents any strict action against the sale of mutton at exorbitant prices.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 12 Mar 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 12 Mar 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 13 Mar 2011 00:00:00 IST