Baramulla, July 13: With fuel stations running dry in some areas of the valley, a shopkeeper in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district was arrested on Thursday for selling petroleum products illegally and at exorbitant rates.
Police arrested the shopkeeper from the Palhallan area of Pattan who was found involved in the unlawful sale of petroleum products at inflated prices. A police official said Mehraj Din Mir, son of Ghulam Mohiuddin Mir, a resident of Tantraypora, Palhallan, was taken into custody from his shop.
The police team was led by SDPO Pattan, Mohd Nawaz-JKPS, he said, adding that during a thorough search conducted at the shop, a substantial quantity of 187 liters of petrol and diesel was seized and promptly placed under police custody.
The swift action by the authorities led to the registration of a case under the Essential Commodities and Petroleum Act at the Pattan Police Station, initiating further investigations into the matter, the official said.
The locals appreciated the “diligent efforts” of the Baramulla Police in combating such illegal activities.
Meanwhile, the residents in parts of north Kashmir are currently facing a severe petroleum shortage, which has caused great distress among them. The scarcity of fuel has resulted in significant inconvenience and hardship as people struggle to commute and fulfill their daily transportation requirements.
At numerous fuel stations, the ongoing petrol crisis has led to the emergence of long queues, which has further worsened the already tense situation in various areas.
