Guv urged to check harassment of traders at Lakhanpur post

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, August 12

The Kashmir Economic Alliance (KEA), an amalgam of various traders’ bodies, on Sunday alleged harassment of traders at the Lakhanpur and Lower Munda posts.

In a statement, KEA vice-chairman Ajaz Shahdhar claimed that the traders were being harassed at these posts by the commercial tax department.

“Previously when the goods and service tax (GST) was introduced, it was promised that there won’t be any checking at these posts. However, the commercial tax department has started harassing the traders in the form of checking at the Lakhanpur and Lower Munda posts as it used to happen under the previous tax regime. This has resulted in a state of anxiety for the traders,” Shahdhar said while appealing to Governor NN Vohra to look into the matter.

He also pointed to the previous government’s ‘promise’ that there would not be any ‘assessment on stocks damaged in the 2014 floods’. “Rather, they (officials) have now assessed the cases and created demands and reversed input tax on the same goods. This is purely injustice on part of the traders’ fraternity,” he added.

The KEA warned that in case the alleged harassment did not stop, they would stage protests and also gherao the commercial tax department office.