Though the District Administration Office (DAO) had asked them to appear in person with transaction details on Sunday, they did not abide by it and only sent their representatives, says an official.
A contingent of police personnel deployed by the local administration had carried out the raids and sealed three warehouses of several major food grain suppliers. Bansal Traders and Shyambaba Enterprises of Kuleshwar, both found with massive stock of lentils and rice, did not bother to send their representatives to the DAO.
Sources tell myrepublica.com that a person, who claimed to be a staffer at KL Dugar Group, of which a colossal warehouse in Koteshwar was sealed, came to the DAO late evening asking to unfasten the lock. "Some of my personal belongings are in the warehouse," the official quoted him as saying.
DAO will be studying the transaction details of the companies and examine if the companies were involved in duping the consumers, says Tez Prasad Paudel, the assistant Chief District Officer. "We will explore every possible dynamic of the scenario that has caused an abnormal price hike in food commodities," said an official, "We will look into net purchase price and cost of transportation and custom along with the level of profit margin."
Meanwhile, the DAO halted its crackdown on suspected warehouses on Sunday. "We were waiting for further directions for the whole day, but no orders came," a police officer said. "Today would have been perfect day to carry out raids in places like Kuleshwar." There are an estimated 150 warehouses of food grains in Kuleshwar. Almost each warehouse occupies more than one rented block. Chief District Officer Bhola Sitaula was not available for comments in this regard.
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