Kolkata: Following instructions from Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, the Enforcement Branch and Kolkata Police conducted raids across several markets in the state on Sunday to monitor vegetable prices that have risen sharply over the past few weeks.

Enforcement Branch teams visited key markets in Kolkata, including Shyambazar, Kole Market, Garia Bazaar and Jadu Babur Bazar. Officials also inspected markets in other parts of the state, speaking with both sellers and buyers to assess the prevailing situation.

An official said teams were checking whether prices remained consistent across different markets. “A few of our teams have gone out. They are saying that the prices are the same in the different markets. But monitoring is being done to ensure that prices do not vary from one market to another,” the official stated.

Police personnel carried out similar checks in several districts. In East Midnapore, the Kolaghat block administration and Panshkura Purba MLA Subrata Maity made a surprise visit to vegetable markets and fertiliser shops in the Deulia Bazar and Kolaghat areas. The MLA inquired whether potatoes, onions and other vegetables were being sold at appropriate rates and also spoke with sellers. Officials later visited local fruit markets and fertiliser outlets, asking farmers whether fertilisers were being charged at elevated prices.

The Enforcement Branch also raided the Kachari market in Baruipur in South 24 Parganas district. Officers from the Baruipur Police Station, Baruipur Municipality and the Baruipur Block Development Office were present during the operation. Similar checks were conducted in Shantipur in Nadia district.

Traders and sellers attributed the sharp rise in vegetable prices to continuous rainfall in July and the resulting shortage of supply. At the same time, there were allegations of price manipulation in both wholesale and retail markets.

Recent rates reflected the pressure on consumers. Papaya and pumpkin were unavailable below Rs 30 per kilogram in many places and were selling at up to Rs 40 per kg in some markets. Brinjal was priced at over Rs 80 to Rs 90 per kilogram. Green chillies were selling at around Rs 200 per kg, while tomatoes ranged between Rs 115 and Rs 120 per kg. Traders noted that prices had been even higher two days earlier.

Many sellers maintained that price increases during the monsoon are common and that rates typically ease once the season progresses and supplies improve. Authorities, however, continued monitoring to check for artificial scarcity or unexplained variations between markets.

The raids form part of efforts to keep essential commodity prices under watch amid seasonal pressure on supply. Officials have urged traders to maintain transparency in pricing while advising consumers to remain cautious and report any clear instances of overcharging. Further inspections are expected as the administration tracks price movements in the coming days.