Rumours about a shortage of salt that had sparked panic buying of the essential commodity in Bihar over the last three days spread to north Bengal and the north eastern states this morning. Bihar and Odisha rubbished the rumours and claimed all was well. 18 people were arrested in Bihar and 5 in Bengal as salt, which normally sells for Rs. 16 a kg, sold at Rs. 150 a kg in some places. The police went around with mikes in markets in the north Bengal districts of Malda, North Dinajpur, South Dinajpur and parts of Darjeeling, saying there was no shortage of salt, but people still queued at shops.
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