JORHAT, April 28 - The Jorhat-based Upper Assam Chamber of Commerce (UACC), one of the oldest and largest traders� body in Upper Assam has expressed deep resentment over sharp rise in incidents of forceful collection of donation by various organisations from businessmen and also against increasing cases of thefts in recent times.
The honorary secretary of UACC Dulichand Agarwal told this newspaper on Friday that the traders� association (UACC) has been receiving complaints from its members every other day about incidents of youths coming to their shops/business establishments in large numbers and demanding huge sums of money as donation to organise cultural functions.
Agarwal said that as per the accounts of the UACC members, in the name of organisations, most of which were unheard and unknown, groups of people were harassing traders and business establishments by demanding donations. He said that such kind of activities were hampering the business community in carrying out their activities.
Moreover, the secretary said that there have been steep increase in incidents of theft in the shops located in various localities in recent times, which has led to a sense of insecurity among the traders here.
Agarwal stated that in a meeting of the UACC held at its office here on Thursday, members while expressing severe disappointment over steep increase in incidents of forceful collection of donations and thefts, also blamed the police for its �failure� to curb the criminal activities.
He said that it was pointed out in the meeting that in most of the recent cases of thefts, police �failed to arrest the miscreants, and even after nabbing some of them, due to lack of proper investigation, the detained persons were not booked under legal provisions.�
Agarwal further said that the meeting also alleged that even after submission of CCTV footage to the police showing visuals of the criminals committing the acts of burglaries, the men in uniform could not apprehend the culprits and recover the stolen goods.
Agarwal said that the UACC on Friday submitted a complaint to the Officer-in-Charge of Jorhat Police Station urging him to take prompt and effective steps in order to enable the traders to run their businesses smoothly.
The secretary added that they sent copies of the complaint to the DGP in Guwahat, DIG (Eastern Range) based in Jorhat and to the Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police respectively.
