Intelligence Agencies have advised the Centre that political rivals may try to derail the demonetisation process by creating artificial crisis of essential commodities such as vegetables, fruits, milk, meat, sugar, and other items across the country.
In its latest report, Intelligence Agencies have attributed the unprecedented situation to a huge gap in demand and supply of currency notes and said the cash crunch in banks and ATMs is expected to continue for at least one more week.
The Delhi Police in its report also expressed apprehensions that political parties workers are behind unrest and restless crowds outside ATMs and banks in the national Capital.
Intelligence sources said rival political parties have kept an eye on the entire crisis.
"Though the supply and stock of vegetable is adequate but there is decline in supply and demand. So far there may be strong possibility of artificial crisis after one week," said sources. It is understood that political workers are in constant touch with traders, including mandis.
Also, there are reports that presence of unscrupulous elements in the queues outside banks and ATMs have increased, said sources, adding that most of them are carrying three to four ATM cards and visiting ATMs several times.
This has resulted in many are not getting chance to enter bank premises, said sources.
Keeping in mind of Intelligence Agencies' advisory, Delhi Chief Secretary KK Sharma has directed district magistrates, additional divisional magistrates, sub divisional magistrates and tehsildars to be vigilant and ensure security of banks and post offices during the period when old currency notes are being exchanged.
The Intelligence Agencies reported to have cited rumours that are often being spread to create panic by political workers. The first rumor was on shortage of salt in several parts of the city while the second was on truckers' strike from Monday. The message was circulated on WhatsApp group.
The Delhi Police officials said they have taken cognisance of messages that were circulated in WhatsApp groups and they will take punitive action against individuals once the investigation was over.
The Intelligence report further said there has not been enough money in circulation. "People are hoarding smaller denomination and not spending Rs100 notes which they are getting either after exchanging the defunct Rs500 or Rs1,000 currency notes or from the ATMs", they said. Due to huge gap in demand and supply of currency, the cash shortage will continue for at least one more week, it said.
The new notes of Rs100 and Rs500 are not in circulation in enough numbers, leading to the inconvenience faced by the people, said sources. The problem is acute in Delhi and a few major urban centres as not enough ATMs are working and refill remains very slow. Unless the ATMs are operationalised as early as possible, the long queues outside the banks will continue, report said.
The Delhi Police officers said certain factory owners and businessmen are using their workers and employees to stand in bank queues to change old notes at various places. The unprecedented crowd in North, Central Delhi, Outer and North West Delhi areas swelled after these people were sent to the banks, a Delhi Police report stated.