Customs raids market to confiscate smuggled cloth

During a raid by Customs intelligence in Lucknow Cloth Market near Jama Cloth Market on reports about presence of smuggled cloth in the market, the area became a battleground.

During the operation, enraged traders pelted stones at the Customs officials and tried unsuccessfully to stop the operation. After the success of the Customs officials, angry people burnt tyres on MA Jinnah Road. The police resorted to aerial firing to disperse the protesters.

The Customs officials raided the market on reports of presence of non-Customs-paid cloth in the market on the night between Monday and Tuesday. The protesters blocked the flow of traffic by placing a container on the road.

Due to non-stop action by the Customs authorities and firing in the air by police to disperse the protesters, the mob reached the Burns Road and hurled stones at the people present on the Food Street whereas they set old tyres and other stuff on fire at Fresco Chowk. Police and Rangers also played a key role in ensuring the action by Customs officials. Police assisted the Customs officials in transporting the smuggled cloth from Lucknow Market to the Customs House.

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Market vendors on the occasion said that the cloth was legal and customs duty paid. "Customs officials are not doing any legal work by breaking into market stalls at night. They stole clothes and cash from the shops," the vendors alleged.

The shopkeepers said that they also have the paperwork regarding release of the cloth from the Customs. "However, we are not being given time to show the papers," they said.

According to South SSP, the Customs intelligence carried out operation with warrants.

However, the traders severely protested and pelted stones at the police. Two persons were injured due to firing and pelting of stones and were shifted to Civil Hospital and JPMC.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 8^th, 2021.