Srinagar, June 7: Traders fraternity today accused the sales tax officials and CRPF personnel posted at the Srinagar International Airport of harassing the traders and creating inconvenience to them.
 The traders alleged that the officials raise unnecessary queries regarding the products being sent by them outside J&K.
 “Pestered by the approach of the sales tax officials, we prefer to send our products to outside by road instead of by air,” the traders said.
 “Despite paying all the taxes and producing all the requisite documents, I fail to understand why the sales tax officials at the airport are harassing the traders/exporters. We want to do our business peacefully,” said a trader.
 The traders also accused the security personnel at the Airport of harassing them on one or the other pretext.
 “The height is that they don’t allow us to raise our voice against the harassment,” they said.
 “We demand the government should intervene and prevent the CRPF personnel from causing any inconvenience to the passengers/traders at the airport,” said Ajaz Ahmad, a saffron trader, suggesting that the CRPF should be removed from the place.  Ahmad alleged that the CRPF unpacks the luggage even after they are checked by the x-ray machines,
 Commissioner, Sales Tax, Kifayat Hussain Rizvi, did not pick up the phone despite repeated attempts.  S P, Airport Abdul Rasheed Bhat said: “If something like that happens, let the traders approach me. I will not allow it any cost.”
 He said it is the job of the Sales Tax Officers to look if there is some banned item and not the job of CRPF.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 7 Jun 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 7 Jun 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 8 Jun 2012 00:00:00 IST