GUWAHATI, Oct 3 - The State government today claimed that an alleged syndicate that had tried to rear its ugly head at Golaghat was nipped in the bud and asserting its resolve to deal with such menace.
Replying to a zero hour notice brought by Congress legislator Ajanta Neog, Food & Civil Supplies Minister Phani Bhusan Choudhury admitted that �some miscreants� had indeed called a group of traders to the Golaghat circuit house on September 10 last and had asked them to pay money to run their business.
�The traders were asked to pay 25 paise per kg of potato and Rs 7,000 per truck. But the traders refused. The businessmen were also threatened later. A case (no 708/18) was later registered at Golaghat sadar police station. One of the accused, Mintu Bora, was arrested on September 29,� the minister said.
He insisted that the syndicate was not allowed to operate and the prices of the commodities remained unaffected.
Raking up the issue, Neog said she was �ashamed� to raise such an issue and all organisations cutting across political lines had protested it.
�The BJP had been claiming that it was against syndicates and corruption. But here we find its own members are indulging in such activities. There should be a high level probe into it,� she said.
Outlining the measures to taken to protect the interests of the traders, Choudhury said two helplines have been opened in the district for the businessmen who face such situations.
�The district administration has convened a meeting with the businessmen and various organisations. The police is conducting regular patrolling. Food & Civil Supplies officials are also conducting regular inspection,� the minister said.
