Villagers loot fair price shop after dealer refuses scrapped banknotes

Angry villagers looted a public distribution system centre in Chhatarpur after the shop dealer refused to accept 1000 and 500 rupee notes.

Angry over a public distribution system (PDS) shop salesman’s refusal to accept Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes, a group of villagers allegedly looted the shop in Bardua village, under Bamitha police station limits, in Chhatarpur district on Friday.

Shops have put up notices about their refusal to accept the devalued 500 and 1000 rupee banknotes in Bhopal. (PTI)

Police said a horde of villagers turned up at the shop to buy food grains. When salesman Munnilal Ahirwar refused to accept the demonetised banknotes, an altercation ensued, following which the villagers barged into the shop and looted sacks of wheat, rice and sugar.

While Ahirwar pointed fingers at the village sarchpanch Nonhelal Patel for the untoward incident, the sarpanch accused that Ahirwar had been misappropriating the rations for long. On Friday, he was just making excuses citing the banknotes were invalid, Patel said.

Police officer KB Singh said Ahirwar had lodged complaints against the villagers earlier too, and an inquiry is on.