Oxygen Crisis: Small cylinder 20 thousand, big 40! Oaks black market of oxygen leaked in Kolkata
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#Kolkata: The second wave of coronavirus is spreading at lightning speed. Oxygen demand peaks across the country. Cries for a little oxygen are everywhere. A class of traders in Kolkata are using this opportunity to drive up the price of oxygen cylinders. The massive black market has started. And the black marketeers are taking advantage of the helplessness of the common people. The Kolkata Police has already taken steps to curb the black market. Special teams have been formed under surveillance. On Sunday, the Enforcement Branch (EB) of the Kolkata Police got the information about the black market of oxygen cylinders from Maniktala in North Kolkata.
During the EB operation at Bidhan Sarani in Maniktala, 13 empty oxygen cylinders weighing 52 kg and 2 empty oxygen cylinders weighing 15 kg were seized. According to the interrogators, the small oxygen cylinders were sold for Rs 18,000-20,000, while the larger ones cost more than Rs 35,000. Although the confiscated oxygen cylinders were all empty. The owner of the company has been summoned with the license.
All concerned including Hospitals and Oxygen suppliers are requested to inform us at 03322505096/03322143644 of any movement of oxygen tankers / cylinders etc in the city of Kolkata so that we can provide exclusive corridor for their swift movement.
– DCP Traffic Kolkata (@KPTrafficDept) April 24, 2021
Incidentally, a special team has been formed by the Intelligence Branch of the Kolkata Police to curb the black market of oxygen. The team includes 6 EB intelligence officers and policemen. Intelligence branch officials said they would be arrested immediately if they tried to blackmail the oxygen cylinder.
Meanwhile, the Kolkata police is working on a green corridor to deliver oxygen to patients in Kolkata. Two numbers have also been given by the Kolkata Police for this. Number two is – 033222505097/03322143644. Force can be reached by calling this number.
Published by:Suman Biswas
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