I-T survey team held ‘hostage’ in factory

HELD CAPTIVE FOR TWO HOURS; TRADERS RAISE SLOGANS AGAINST OFFICIALS FOR HARASSING THEM

LUDHIANA : High drama was witnessed at a hosiery unit, Vir Entreprises, on Bahadurke Road on Wednesday afternoon, when labourers at the unit held hostage a team of income tax officials who had gone there for a survey.

Their captivity lasted two hours. The owner of the unit was not present on the premises. “Labourers informed them that the owner was not there, but they continued the survey. This led to resistance from labourers and neighbouring traders, who are affiliated to Bahadurke Textile and Knitwear Association,” said a trader Darshan Dawar.

“It was lunch time when officials arrived at the hosiery unit. Labourers sensed trouble and called up the members of the association. Traders led by Tarun Jain Bawa arrived at the spot and confronted tax department officials,” said Subhash Saini, another trader.

People gathered near the unit and police were called in. Traders also raised slogans against officials of the tax department for harassing traders.

“There was some issue during the survey and the situation is under control,” said a senior official of the income tax department on the condition of anonymity. Later in the evening, traders met officials and the issue was resolved.