As many as 121 black-marketeers have been arrested in the last four months

Kathmandu, January 7

Minister for Home Affairs Shakti Bahadur Basnet on Thursday warned that the government would not spare any black-marketeers taking advantage of short of supply of essential goods in the market.

Speaking at a programme organised by Federation of Nepali Journalists in the capital, he said, “The government will bring to book all black-marketeers.” He said the government had adopted a policy to discourage black-marketing, which has been flourishing due to disruption of supplies from across the southern border.

He also urged people to immediately inform the police, respective district administration offices if any incident of black-marketing came to their notice.

Police Commissioner AIGP Pratap Singh Thapa said black-marketing was flourishing amid shortage of daily essential, including fuel, and that the law enforcement agency had been acting tough against hoarders and black-marketeers.

According to police, as many as 121 black-marketeers have been arrested in 69 operations in the Kathmandu Valley in the past four months, while cases have been filed against 80.

Director General of the Department of Commerce Shambhu Koirala said black marketing flourishes when there was an imbalance between demand and supply. He said the department was doing its best to check black-marketing of essential commodities, he added.

FNJ Kathmandu Chairman Govinda Chaulagai and Consumers Welfare Forum representative Pramlal Maharjan accused the government of failing to take measures to control black marketing.