Black marketeering in masks, eight arrested in police crackdown

KATHMANDU: At least eight persons were arrested on the charge of involving in black marketeering of face masks when the country was reeling under coronavirus menace.

The police arrested eight persons in possession of 78,000 masks from Dallu, Kathmandu.

Deputy Superintendant of Police (DSP) of Metropolitan Police Range Kathmandu Hobindra Bogati shared that the black marketers were found selling masks each costing Rs 5 in an exorbitant price up to Rs 31.

Among the arrestees are Mintu Tamang of Kavre, Mankaji Lama of Satdobato, Anish Karki, a local of Ramechhap and is residing at Nagarjun, Thumraj Upadhyay, a local of Bajura and is residing at Ekantakuna, Ujjwal Adhikari of Nagarjun Municipality-2, Shiva Khadka, a local of Ramechhap and Lalitpur and Nishan Tamang, a local of Ramechhap and is residing in Soyambhu.

The police teams deputed from Metropolitan Police Circuit Baneswor and Metropolitan Police Circuit Soyambhu seized the masks from Mahakal Manjushree Traders run by Mintu Tamang.

Police launched the crackdown acting on a special tip-off. Preparation is on to take action against them as per the law, police informed.