Mangaluru: Cracking the whip, the Mangaluru City Corporation officials raided several shops in busy Central Market area and seized huge stock of plastic bags, on Wednesday.

The sales and usage of plastic has been banned across the state from April 1 onwards and a complete ban was introduced on April 15.

However, several places in the city continued to supply and use plastic.

Following this, the MCC officials raided three reputed wholesalers.

Confusions prevailed when some shopkeepers claimed that the DC has permitted usage of grocery bags, while the MCC officials insisted that the relaxation has not been provided.

Though none of the shopkeepers were fined, the MCC officials said that this was only a raid to create awareness on plastic ban and that such raids will continue in future.

Meanwhile, a minor commotion broke out when locals staged a flash protest against the raid by the MCC.

MCC officials Shabarinath, Madhukar, Basavaraj, Yashwanth, Sushanth, Nirmala and others were present during raid.