Mamata bans vegetable export

The meeting was attended,among others,by city Police Commissioner Surojit Kar Purokayastha and Director General of Police G M P Reddy,besides secretaries of related departments.

“Some unscrupulous traders are increasing the prices of vegetables and fish at their own will,giving an excuse of flood and rains. I won’t tolerate this any more. Stern steps will be taken immediately,” the Chief Minister said.

Mamata further said she had directed the police,enforcement branch and her entire administration to keep tab on the prices of vegetables and against their transportation to other states and on hoarding to create artificial crisis.

The Chief Minister also announced fixing the price of potato (Jyoti variety) at Rs 11 a kg in wholesale and Rs 13 a kg in retail markets.

“If this price is not maintained,traders will have to face the music. FIR will be lodged immediately,” she said.

Later,minister for agricultural production,Arup Roy,said that anybody can file complaint at the police stations,BDO office or DM office against those who flout government directives regarding the prices.

Mamata blamed the high prices of onion on poor yield and said steps were being taken to boost the staple’s cultivation in the state. The government is already selling onions at Rs 36 per kg from 40 centres across the state.

Besides,farming of fish would also be increased in the state to meet the demands and nearly 350 waterbodies had already been brought under this scheme,she said. The government will send fish in refrigerated vans to all 341 blocks of the state.

5,000 Mother Dairy kiosks would also be opened across the state,she added.

Traders under scanner

Kolkata: Police arrested two of the three accused of raping a 19-year-old trainee nurse on October 27. Main accused Ravi Kumar Shaw was arrested from Howrah while Pintu Prasad Shaw was nabbed in Burdwan Wednesday,while yet another suspect,Sanjeev Shaw is still absconding,police said. They arrested duo was produced at a Sealdah court today,which sent them to police custody till November 9,they said.

Cossipore police station officials said the duo was traced with the help of mobile tower location. “We will be interrogating them,” said a senior official.

On October 27,the victim had boarded what she thought was a “shuttle car” for Ultadanga Railway Station. She fell unconscious in the car and later found herself in brother at Sonagachi,a red light area in Kolkata,where she was allegedly gangraped.