Fake scarcity of masks, medicines won't be tolerated

Kolkata: Stating that "creating artificial scarcity" of medicine will not be tolerated, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee directed police to take immediate stringent measures if anyone is found hoarding and black marketing medicines and masks.

Banerjee was speaking during a press conference at Nabanna after holding a high-level meeting to check spread of novel coronavirus (nCcoV).

"It happens often that black marketing of medicines takes place in such situations. Many have tendency to hoard masks just to mint money using the opportunity. Enforcement Branch and concerned police

agencies should take immediate step if they find anyone doing so," she said.

"No one will be allowed to create artificial scarcity of medicine just by hoarding the same. Police have to keep a close watch on the situation," Banerjee said, adding that if anyone is found hoarding masks, then the same will be seized as it would be required for people in an emergency situation. The seized masks will be distributed among the people who need it.

The Chief Minister said this in reply to a question regarding cases

of masks getting sold at a much higher price, which recently came to light.

"It is important to help people when they are in trouble instead of chalking out plans to make money by taking the opportunity of people's weakness," she stated.

Within a few hours after the Chief Minister gave the directions to police, officers of the Enforcement Branch (EB) of Kolkata Police conducted raids at several medicine and surgical shops in different parts of the city.

Raids were conducted at shops located on Chittaranjan Avenue, Hazra Crossing and Colleges Street, along with shops situated near RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, SSKM Hospital and Calcutta Medical College and Hospital.

During the raids, the police officers checked the availability of masks, both disposable and reusable, in the shops. The officers also checked the price at which they were being sold at the shops.

The officers have also noticed shortage of masks in the market and have directed the owners of the medicine stores to sell the masks at reasonable prices.

An officer of Kolkata Police said that the EB will be continuing the raids to keep a close tab on the situation, so that people do not get harassed.