Patna: Nine people were arrested Friday for allegedly spreading rumours of an acute shortage of salt in Bihar due to which its prices shot up to Rs.150 a kg in a day, police said. Salt normally sells for Rs.8-Rs.16 depending on its quality.
Nine people were arrested for alleged blackmarketing of salt from Darbhanga, Champaran's Bettaih, Barauni in Begusarai and Danapur in Patna districts since Thursday night, an officer said.
"I have asked district authorities to lodge FIRs against the hoarders selling salt at rates above the maximum retail price under section 7 of the Essential Commodities Act," Bihar's Food and Civil Supply Minister Shyam Razak told IANS here.
Principal Secretary (Food and Civil Supplies) Sishir Sinha asked the people not to buy salt in panic as Bihar had adequate stocks.
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