Traders stage protest against cop's directives

ALLAHABAD: Holding placards and banners traders staged a silent protest at the Subhash crossing in Civil Lines to express their dismay over the recent statement of additional director general of police, Law and Order, Crime,Brij Lal against the trading community.
Earlier, while addressing a meeting of traders, state president of Vyapari Ekta Samiti, Vijay Gupta said that now trade tax officials and the police would jointly exploit the business community.This is because ADG Brij Lal has issued strict instructions that Goonda Act and National Security Act (NSA) be invoked against traders who question the authority of officers undertaking checking in their business premises and create obstructions, Gupta said.
He added that ADG's missive, besides increasing red-tapism in the government machinery, would embolden the officials to terrorise the traders and businessmen. Any attempt to resist the officers would lead to imposition of the Goonda Act and NSA against the traders, Gupta said. He exhorted the traders to prepare themselves for a decisive battle against the state government on the issue.
Expressing her views, state general secretary of the samiti, Suman Goswami said that the traders would oppose such directives tooth and nail which were meant to instil fear in the business community.