In a shocking incident that has sent ripples through the local business community, P. Hariprasad, a 42-year-old jeweller from Jeypore, passed away due to a cardiac arrest two days after his shop was raided by Goods and Services Tax ( GST ) officials. Hariprasad experienced severe chest pain and was subsequently admitted to a private hospital, where he succumbed to his condition on Thursday.
The raid occurred on Tuesday when a team of GST officials conducted an inspection of Hariprasad’s shop, scrutinising the gold and silver ornaments. The jeweller reportedly expressed distress over the raid, claiming it adversely affected both his business and reputation in the town. Local traders alleged that Hariprasad was threatened with a substantial fine unless he paid a bribe. However, he staunchly refused, insisting he had committed no wrongdoing.
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The news of his untimely death prompted a significant outpouring of grief and anger, with hundreds of traders gathering at Hariprasad’s residence on the main road of Jeypore on Friday. A relative of the deceased claimed that he had been threatened by the GST officials during the raid.
In response to the incident, V. Prabhakar, president of the Jeypore Chamber of Commerce, issued a statement condemning the actions of the GST officials.
He called for accountability, demanding action against those who allegedly harassed Hariprasad. “We have called for a 12-hour bandh on Saturday to protest the high-handedness of GST officials,” Prabhakar announced, rallying local traders to stand in solidarity.
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A senior GST officer, however, refuted claims of harassment, stating that the verification of documents and assessment of ornaments was a standard procedure scheduled for November 5 and did not constitute intimidation.
As the community mourns the loss of a respected businessman, the incident raises pressing questions about the conduct of tax officials and the broader implications of GST enforcement on small traders in the region. The call for a bandh reflects the traders’ deep-seated concerns about the pressures they face in the current economic climate.
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The 12-hour bandh organised by the Jeypore Chamber of Commerce in response to the death of the jeweller following a GST raid disrupted daily life in the town on Saturday.
Led by Jeypore MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati, hundreds of traders rallied along the main road, chanting slogans and carrying placards. They made their way to the Town police station, where they filed a formal FIR against GST officials, accusing them of unlawfully entering the home of the late P. Hariprasad and behaving inappropriately toward women. Bahinipati called for immediate action against the officials, claiming that their excessive actions contributed to the death of the 42-year-old jeweller.
Following this, the protesters surrounded the CT and GST office to denounce the raid on Hariprasad’s shop, which took place on an auspicious occasion like Dhanteras. They demanded to see the orders for the raid from Deputy Commissioner Suraj Kumar Hansda, who was unable to provide the requested documents. The protesters then left the office with a warning to the officials against harassing local traders.
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During the bandh, business establishments and educational institutions remained closed, while government offices, banks, and courts were largely deserted.
Meanwhile, Jeypore IIC RR Dalei confirmed that an FIR had been filed against the GST officials, and police would investigate the matter.
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