HT Correspondent
MARGHERITA, July 3: Traders and shopkeepers of Makum Bagan Tiniali Daily Market in Margherita staged a protest on Thursday against alleged illegal and excessive tax collection by the leaseholder of the market.
The demonstrators claimed that the market is unregistered and accused the leaseholder of using intimidation tactics with the backing of local miscreants.
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Shops remained closed during the protest, as traders gathered at the market premises demanding an immediate halt to the alleged extortion.
They alleged that those who refused to pay the tax were being threatened with vandalism and demolition of their shops.
Pranjal Baraik, assistant publicity secretary of the Assam Tea Tribes Student Association (ATTSA) central executive committee, questioned the legality of the market’s tendering process.
He alleged that the Kumarpatty Gaon Panchayat secretary, Bhaskar Baruah, had illegally awarded the tender to one Jitul Borgohain in collusion with an individual named Rajendra Rai, despite the market being unregistered in official records.
Baraik further stated that traders were being forced to pay taxes to the unauthorised leaseholder and warned that ATTSA’s Margherita Branch, along with the affected traders, would intensify agitation if the tender is not cancelled.
A formal written complaint was submitted to Margherita Block Development Officer Rohit Kumar Yadav, demanding immediate cancellation of the alleged illegal tender.
Traders warned that if their grievances were not addressed, they would escalate their protest.
