Jagun market allotment row: Protesters demand action against Tinsukia Zila Parishad chief

The Tinsukia Zila Parishad office witnessed protests on October 1 as a section of residents from Jagun raised slogans against Zila Parishad president Bhadeswar Moran, alleging irregularities in the allotment of the Jagun Daily Market.

The protesters demanded that the alleged illegal allotment of the market be stopped and sought action over the collection of market taxes.

Slogans including “Bhadeswar Moran Murdabad”, “Stop illegal allotment of Jagun Daily Market”, “We want justice” and “Bhadeswar Moran Hai Hai” were raised during the protest.

According to the protesters, the market was allegedly allotted to a person named Tirtha Basumatary following the direct intervention of Zila Parishad president Bhadeswar Moran.

They alleged that Basumatary has been collecting taxes from traders at the market for the past three months.

The protesters claimed that the tenure of the previous lessee, Anjit Hajong, ended on June 30. According to them, the market was supposed to be allotted to a new lessee through a fresh tender from July 1.

They alleged that while the new tender process was pending, the Zila Parishad president independently handed over the responsibility of collecting taxes and managing the market to Basumatary, bypassing three persons who had reportedly been assigned by the Zila Parishad to collect taxes from traders.

The protesters further alleged that Basumatary is known locally as a BJP worker and is considered close to the Zila Parishad president.

Meanwhile, a fresh tender for the market was reportedly opened on September 19, with a group identified as Jemti Dal emerging as the successful bidder.

The protesters said the newly selected bidder was supposed to take over the market from October 1. However, they alleged that the handover had not taken place.

The Jagun Daily Market, located near the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border in Tinsukia district, reportedly fetched a tender value of around Rs 18.71 lakh.

The allegations have raised questions over the management and allotment of the market. The Zila Parishad president's response to the allegations was not immediately available.