Mizoram‘s noted social activist Vanramchhuangi, popularly known as Ruatfela Nu, lodged an FIR against price hike in surgical masks.
Following the coronavirus outbreak, the rate of surgical masks has reportedly increased in the market of the state.
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“Ruatfela Nu lodged has lodged an FIR with the Aizawl police station today (Tuesday) on the basis of media reports that surgical masks are being sold at exorbitant rates to the tune of Rs 40 per piece,” police said.
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In her FIR, Ruatfela Nu alleged that surgical masks were being sold at Rs 40 by many private pharmacies.
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A private pharmacy in the Aizawl civil hospital campus, run on contract with the government, is also charging Rs 40 for a surgical mask, the activist said.
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She said before the outbreak of coronavirus, surgical masks were available in the medical stores at a rate not higher than Rs 10.
The hike in surgical mask prices in the wake of coronavirus outbreak is against the law, she said.
Meanwhile, a pharmacist on condition of anonymity told Northeast Now that they have to hike the price of surgical masks as the import price has shot up following the outbreak of coronavirus.
The pharmacist also said surgical masks are out of stock in many medical stores as the wholesalers started rationing of the face masks since Monday.
It may be mentioned that the global death toll from the coronavirus spread breached the 4,000-mark on Tuesday and the outbreak has spread to over 100 countries with more than 110,000 cases of infection.
In India, the number of confirmed virus cases increased to more than 50.
However, there has been no case of death reported so far.