Authorities today sealed a meat shop at Nowshera area here after its owner was caught selling meat at higher-than-approved rate.
“The owner of the butchery operating under the businessname Manzoor Meat Shop was arrested and an FIR under Section 3/7 of theEssential Commodities Act registered against him in the local police station,”an official statement said.
“The action is in pursuance to a series of measures theadministration has taken against violators over the past few days in responseto complaints of overpricing of fresh food items following the closure of theJammu-Srinagar highway. The authorities have stepped up the market vigil tocheck the menace of overpricing of essential commodities in the market,”it added.
District Magistrate Dr Shahid Iqbal has directed for dailyinspections of all fresh food markets across the district throughout the monthof Ramadan. He has called for strict action against all those indulging inoverpricing.
The administration has appealed the general public to helpin maintaining a check on the black marketing of essential items and report suchinstances on phone number 9419080036 or to FCS&CA senior officers at9906464944 (for areas in the North) and 7051736919 (for those in the South ofthe district).
Meanwhile, police accompanied by concerned executivemagistrates and representatives of other departments today conducted surprisemarket checking in various areas of the city.
The joint team conducted market checking at Noorbagh,Jawahar Nagar, Rawalpora, Jogilankar Rainawari, Hazratbal,Karanagar, Khanyar,BK Pora-Dangerpora area of Nowgam, Pantha Chowk and Nishat markets.
“Market checking was aimed to ensure the good qualityitems are put on sale and to curb black marketing and profiteering of essentialcommodities. Erring shopkeepers were fined on the spot by executivemagistrates, besides rotten vegetables and fruits were disposed off. Thegeneral public appreciated Srinagar police for this action and hoped that suchdrives shall continue in future as well,” police spokesperson said in astatement.