Kolkata, Aug 2: Following the instructions of Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, the Enforcement Branch and Kolkata Police raided various markets across the state, including Kolkata, on Sunday to keep vegetable prices under check after rates skyrocketed in the last few weeks.

Enforcement Branch officials raided Shyambazar, Kole Market, Garia Bazaar, and Jadu Babur Bazar in Kolkata. In addition, local officials visited various markets across the state and spoke to sellers and buyers to understand the market situation.

They asked the vegetable sellers about the prices they were selling. An official said, “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.”

On the other hand, the police also checked the markets in several districts.

The Kolaghat block administration and Panshkura Purba MLA, Subrata Maity, made a surprise visit to vegetable markets and fertiliser shops in Deulia Bazar and Kolaghat areas of East Midnapore district.

The MLA inquired whether potatoes, onions and other vegetables were being sold at the correct price in shops. He also talked to the sellers. After that, the officials went to the local fruit markets and fertiliser shops. They inquired from the farmers whether the fertiliser was being charged at high rates.

The Enforcement Branch also raided the Kachari market in Baruipur of South 24 Parganas district. Officers from the Baruipur Police Station, Baruipur Municipality and Baruipur BDO office were present during the operation.

The operation was also conducted in Shantipur of Nadia district.

Traders and sellers said that the price of vegetables soared due to continuous rain in July and a shortage of supply.

However, there were allegations of price manipulation in the wholesale and retail markets. Papaya and pumpkin were not available below Rs 30. In some places, these are being sold at Rs 40 per kilogram. Brinjal was selling at over Rs 80 to Rs 90 per kilogram. Two days ago, the prices were even higher. Green chillies were being sold at Rs 200 per kilogram, while tomatoes were being sold at Rs 115 to Rs 120 per kilogram. However, many said prices generally increase during the monsoon season, and then come down as the season ends.

Tehran, Aug 2: Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi warned the United States against taking any “adventurous” actions, saying those responsible would bear the consequences, according to Iran’s semi-official Mehr news agency.

Araghchi made the remarks during separate phone conversations with Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff Asim Munir, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, during which they exchanged views on the latest regional developments, Mehr said in a report.

Araghchi told Munir and Fidan that Iran was fully prepared to safeguard its national sovereignty, territorial integrity and national security, and would respond decisively to any act of aggression, reports Xinhua news agency.

In talks with his Saudi counterpart, Araghchi warned that any hostile US or Israeli action, as well as any regional support for it, would draw a firm, proportionate response from Iran’s armed forces, it added.

Also on Saturday, Iran’s Foreign Ministry accused the United States of violating the peace memorandum of understanding they reached mid-June, citing its continued strikes on Iranian targets, blockade on Iranian ports and commercial shipping, and stepped-up economic pressure.

In a statement, the ministry vowed to continue to resist US “unlawful aggression” and to firmly defend its national dignity and independence.

The remarks followed renewed exchanges of airstrikes between the United States and Iran after days of pause.

Before the pause, the United States had launched multiple waves of strikes against Iranian targets, saying they were in response to Iranian attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and aimed at “degrading Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping.”

Earlier, Araghchi has warned Britain against any military cooperation with the United States in carrying out strikes on Iran.

Araghchi made the remarks during a phone call with British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband on Friday, stressing that any cooperation with “aggressors,” including under the pretext of existing defense agreements, would be “unacceptable,” according to a statement issued by the Iranian Foreign Ministry on Saturday.

Tokyo, Aug 2: The death toll from a powerful earthquake that struck Japan’s Kumamoto Prefecture has risen to 38, the prefectural government said Sunday.

At a disaster response headquarters meeting held Sunday morning, Kumamoto Prefecture Government officials announced that 38 people had died, including those whose deaths are still being investigated to determine whether they were caused by the magnitude 7.1 tremor, Xinhua news agency reported.

At a Nippon Paper factory in Yatsushiro City, where the earthquake caused a smokestack to collapse, rescue teams pulled 10 people from the site. Eight of them were confirmed dead, while two sustained injuries. Another person who had been missing was found in the rubble shortly after noon on Thursday, though the individual’s condition has not yet been disclosed.

At Aeon Mall Kumamoto in Kashima Town, where a large explosion occurred after the earthquake, 12 people have been rescued. Seven of them were confirmed dead, and five were injured. Police and firefighters are continuing search operations to determine whether anyone else remains trapped inside the building.

More than 9,400 people are currently staying at 406 evacuation shelters across the prefecture, officials said.

The earthquake has also left approximately 79,700 households without water. Local authorities said there is currently no timetable for restoring water service in any of the affected municipalities.

Meanwhile, around 19,000 households remained without electricity as of Thursday afternoon. According to Kyushu Electric Power, power is expected to be restored by Friday evening if repair work proceeds as planned.

On Wednesday, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi held the Second Extraordinary Disaster Countermeasures Headquarters Meeting for the Kumamoto earthquake. Kumamoto Prefecture Governor Kimura, as well as Deputy Minister Tsushima of the Cabinet Office, attended the meeting virtually.

Takaichi offered condolences to the victims and expressed sympathies with the bereaved families. She assured that the Japanese government is working swiftly to assess the damage caused by the earthquake, while relevant ministries and agencies are working to address initial responses.