Jeypore: Senior Congress leader and Odisha MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati lashed out at GST officials for conducting raid at jewellery shops in Jeypore on Dhanteras festival on October 29 and allegedly harassing the traders.
The senior legislator told reporters that the GST officials have been deliberately harassing the jewellery shop owners by conducting on Dhanteras day for the last three years and affecting business during the festival.
Coming down heavily on the GST officials, Bahinipati claimed that the raid at the shop and house of prominent trader P Haraprasad Rao was conducted from 10 am to 5 pm on Dhanteras day on October 29, bringing his business to a halt during the festival.
Despite repeated requests by Haraprasad to wait for a day as he was not well, the GST officials continued to harass him and his family throughout the day, he claimed, adding that the GST team did not take any woman police personnel during the operation and harassed the family members of the trader.
The gold trader suffered a heart attack the next day following harassment and mental torture during the GST raid and died, the Congress leader claimed.
Bahinipati further said that he has filed a complaint with the police for booking the GST officials for alleged murder and their immediate arrest for allegedly causing Haraprasad’s death.
The Congress leader said he will also raise the issue in the Assembly during the upcoming winter session.
Notably, the Jeypore Chamber of Commerce observed a 12-hour shutdown in Jeypore town on Saturday alleging that the jeweller died due to stress caused by raid conducted by GST officials at his shop.
The chamber alleged that the jewellerdied of a heart attack after the sudden raid by GST officials during Dhanteras festival. It claimed that the raid caused excessive stress and pressure and led to Rao’s untimely demise.
Rao’s brother has also alleged that the raid was unnecessary and harassment, which led to his elder brother’s death.
The Chamber of Commerce has demanded action against the officials in connection with the incident.
Also Read: Bandh Observed In Odisha’s Jeypore Over Death Of Jeweller After GST Raid
