India, May 10 -- Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has directed a statewide crackdown on illegal hoarding and black marketing of essential commodities, stressing the need for constant surveillance to prevent artificial inflation of prices. Chairing a high-level meeting on Saturday with officials from multiple departments, the CM also called for stringent measures to maintain law and order amid ongoing tensions in the state.

Issuing a stern warning, Siddaramaiah told officials that attempts to exploit the current crisis by manipulating prices through stockpiling must be curbed immediately. "Unlawful stockpiling and black market operations must be closely monitored. Any effort to create artificial scarcity or escalate prices unnecessar...