Srinagar authorities have booked a number of shopkeepers for packaging and selling government ration, meant for public distribution, in the open market.
Deputy Commissioner Shahid Chaudhary said multiple teams raided parts of Srinagar and “caught shopkeepers red-handed” while selling rice procured by the food and civil supplies department.
“The government’s subsidised ration for the poor was siphoned off and were packaged as ‘Apple Brand’ and ‘Kamal Brand’. The culprits have been arrested. The officials involved will also have to face the music,” said Mr. Chaudhary.
The authorities have also sealed a butchery at Nowshera area for “selling meat at higher-than-approved rate”. An FIR under Section 3/7 of the Essential Commodities Act has been registered against the shop owner.
Mr. Chaudhary has directed for daily inspections of all fresh food markets across the district throughout the month of Ramadan.
“The right of Srinagar residents, as everywhere else, to unadulterated, hygienic and reasonably priced food has to be respected. Around 100 doubtful samples have been lifted after 2,000 inspections,” he added.
