Maharashtra: Two caught stealing tomatoes at APMC market in Navi Mumbai

Representative image

As tomato prices continue to soar across the country, two men allegedly attempted to steal 90 kg of the kitchen staple at the Agriculture Produce Market Committee's (APMC) market in Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, the police said on Tuesday, reported the PTI.

The incident took place at the APMC market in Vashi in Navi Mumbai on July 14, an official said.

IN PHOTOS: Heavy rains lash Mumbai and its suburbs

1 year agoPHOTO GALLERY

Security guards at the market spotted two men who were later found to be labourers, dragging crates containing 90 kg of tomatoes around 2 am. The duo was attempting to take the crates outside the market when the guards intercepted them, he said, according to the PTI.

When they failed to give a satisfactory response to the questions posed by the guards, they were taken to the APMC police station, the official said.

However, the owner of the tomato stock refused to lodge a complaint against the duo, he added.

Tomato prices have shot up since last month due to the disruption in supply amid monsoon.

Meanwhile, Tomato prices in the retail markets of the national capital declined to an average Rs 150 per kg on Monday from Rs 178 per kg on Sunday, according to the government data, reported the PTI.

The Centre is selling tomatoes at a subsidised rate of Rs 80 per kg in Delhi-NCR and some other cities through the National Cooperative Consumers' Federation of India (NCCF) and the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED), the news agency reported on Monday.

As per the data compiled by the Department of Consumer Affairs, the all-India average retail prices of tomatoes was Rs 120.29 per kg while the maximum price was Rs 237 per kg at Hapur.

The minimum retail price was Rs 47 per kg while the modal price was Rs 120 per kg.

Among other metros, tomatoes were selling at Rs 155 per kg in Mumbai, Rs 132 per kg in Chennai and Rs 143 per kg in Kolkata.

In Delhi's Paschim Vihar, local vendors are selling tomatoes at Rs 120-140 per kg depending on the quality.

"Wholesale prices at Azadpur mandi have fallen. We bought at Rs 100-120 per kg and are selling at Rs 120-140 per kg," Jyotish Kumar Jha, a fruit and vegetable vendor at Paschim Vihar. said.

On Sunday, the Centre decided to cut the subsidised price of tomatoes to Rs 80 per kg from Rs 90 per kg.

Tomato prices normally shoot up during July-August and October-November periods, which are generally lean production months.

Supply disruption caused due to the monsoon has led to a sharp rise in the rates of tomatoes.

(with PTI inputs)