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This is an archive article published on March 7, 1998

Irate mob attacks raiding excise officials

BATHINDA, MARCH 6: Officials of the Department of Central Excise and Customs were beaten up by traders here this afternoon, when a dispute s...

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BATHINDA, MARCH 6: Officials of the Department of Central Excise and Customs were beaten up by traders here this afternoon, when a dispute sparked off during a search operation of some business houses.

However, none of the officials have been seriously injured though they received blows and kicks by a mob which thronged them at the site of the raids.

Some of the officials managed to escape but others were put behind shutters and freed only when a police party headed by SP (D) came to their rescue. A Maruti van and a Gypsy of the officials were also badly smashed by the mob.

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Fortunately, Manmohan Singh and Y.D. Banga, Deputy Commissioner and Assistant Deputy Commissioner, Central Excise, escaped unhurt though they were supervising the operation.

Manmohan Singh told ENS that they had raided as many as three firms on a tip-off to detect cases of tax evasion in lakhs. He said that as many as 20 officials who raided all the three firms simultaneously, had recovered relevant documents to prove their point.

Singh alleged that when the traders could do nothing to prove their innocence, they summoned some hooligans and started manhandling the officials.

He said that even though the officials had revolvers, they restrained from firing to prevent bloodshed.

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But Punjab Pradesh Beopar Mandal President Madan Lal Kapoor alleged that the raiding party which had come from Jalandhar, had launched a search operation with the sole objective of extorting money from the firms.

He claimed that after searching for a few hours, when they failed to detect anything, they started negotiating for money with the firms. He also said that the officials started misbehaving with the traders.

Kapoor alleged that one of the officials was heard saying that they would raid their houses and “search their women too.” It was at this point that things flared up and the mob went out of control.

Meanwhile, on a call of the Beopar Mandal, most markets remained closed and businessmen blocked traffic for some time. However, they soon cleared the area after police intervention.

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Manmohan Singh has refuted the charges levelled by the Beopar Mandal and said it was a conspiracy to evade action after being caught for evading taxes.He said he had lodged a complaint with the local police and sought necessary legal action against the accused.

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