Reacting to the a series of raids by GST authorities, the Umarkote Chamber of Commerce held a rally and observed a 12-hour bandh from 6 am to 6 pm at Umarkote on Thursday. All shops and other business establishments at Umarkote and its adjacent areas remained closed.
Businessmen are frightened over the over the excesses shown by the GST authorities to mop up the GST collection from the urban areas of Umerkote, they alleged.
Earlier on the day, in an emergency meeting held in the premises of chamber of commerce, Umarkote, the merchants contended that they have been marginalised by the GST authorities during the last 5 months as 8 to 9 such raids have been conducted at Umarkote only.
Chamber of commerce president Dwarikanath Panigrahi deniunced the said the GST raids at Umerkote.
Chamber of commerce secretary said within a span of 4 months 26 merchants of Umarkote have been raided by the GST authorities and slapped hefty tax.
Contacted, Deputy Commissioner GST Samir Kumar Majhi said that the GST officials conducted raids at Umerkote on specific complaints.
Meanwhile, the general public welcomed the steps of the GST department.
Speaking to the media one Sundhar Majhi, a local denizen, said that as Umerkote is adjecent to Chhattisgarh, the unscrupulous traders are bringing goods by evading tax and cheating the local customers, mostly the tribals.