IMPHAL, October 3: The All Manipur Students Union today conducted a surprise drive against artificial price hike and held some shops selling goods with inappropriate price tags.
Speaking to media persons, general secretary AMSU Manjit Sarangthem said Hukmichand Chandanmall Bagda Shop in Thangal Bazar was caught selling goods by replacing the original price tags with altered price tags.
He said such practice have been encouraged by the absence of a proper price regulatory mechanism from the concerned departments.
Such exploitation of consumers and customers have been made possible by the failure of the Food Safety Department and the Weight and measures department to function properly, he lamented.
He further demanded proper legal action against the shop and to impose fine, cancel the shops licence and arresting the proprietor immediately.
He warned in case the authorities concerned failed to take the actions, the student body will be compelled to close down the shop permanently.
He said the toll free numbers of the departments which are meant for the public to lodge their complaints are also not functional and seems to be only another means to befool the public.
Such apathy and indifference of the concerned department seems to point at some unholy nexus between the parties, he said.