AGARTALA, June 22 (TIWN): Tripura’s 2nd Border Haat at Kamalasagar under Sephaijala District had erupted in controversy with its functioning on the second day of the haat or market. The incident occurred on June 18 after the unruly custom authorities alongwith the BSF security forces allegedly restricted a section of traders from entering the haat despite they had a valid pass with them on the second day of the haat at Kamalasagar. However due to this untoward incident, on Monday Sephaijala Additional District Magistrate (ADM), who is also the committee chairman of the border haat held a ‘jumbo’ meeting with the all the concerned officials eyeing to restrict further disturbances at the haat. The high level meeting has come up on Monday following the report of the incident tabled with committee chairman on Friday.Talking to TIWN on Monday a highly placed source of Sepahijala District Administration who is actively engaged to the committee said, “A meeting was held today considered to be a high level taking up the issue of the disturbance occurred on last Thursday at the haat.”The source said that the meeting was held in presence of the concerned custom authorities, BSF authorities, Superintendent of Police (SP) along with other members of the border haat committee.

Expressing displeasure over the unruliness of the custom authorities and a section of security forces, an official source said, “Despite several meeting were held earlier prior to the functioning of the border haat, if the custom and the security forces say that they were not having the lists of the elected vendors that it would be unacceptable and it seems that the meeting held had no value.

”“We made everything to fall on right track before the haat started functioning, but on last Thursday the custom authority behaved unruly with the vendors and they were deprived from the trading,” added source.

 “An unexpected incident occurred on Thursday at the haat due to an idiotic role of one concerned custom staff Sandeep Das.” 

Adding to that the source said, “Mr. Das acting foolish had said the vendors that there products should be brought within the 5 meter radius from the haat, following which most of the vendors fumed.”

Earlier talking to TIWN another official source explained, “In the agreement during the year 2012 between India and Bangladesh, no where it was written that the products of the vendors should be within the 5 meter radius.” He further added that the vendors are allowed to carry vegetables, fruits, processed fruit drinks, cottage industry products, handicrafts, textile goods etc. From anywhere and can sell their products at the border haat.

However, it is to be mentioned here that for the first of its kind here in Tripura the controversy erupted with the functioning of border haat at Kamalasagar under Sepahijala District. It was alleged that most of them who were already entrusted and listed to enter ther haat for trading were restricted by the concerned BSF securities at the haat. The deprived vendors and the vendees alleged that the BSFs’ acting on behest of the concerned smugglers had harassed them and stopped their way towards entering the haat. The incident has triggered a huge resentment among the locals on June 18.

After setting up a border 'haat' (market) near the India-Bangladesh international border at Srinagar in South Tripura district on January 13this year bordering Madhugram village of Feni district of Bangladesh, another such market at Kamalasagar in Sipahijala district, was set up and opened from June 11 this year, but the incident occurred on Thursday has brought a serious allegation against the concerned BSF jawans over acting on behest of the smugglers who are on a spree smuggling contraband items and other agricultural products to the neighbouring country Bangladesh.

According to the analysis and a section of locals of Kamalsagar the incident had also triggered uncertainty on the functioning of the haat, whereas the haat was once considered to be one of the trading hubs as a large number of vendees were expected to rush the haat both from Bangladesh as well as from Tripura. However the official source on Monday hoped that no further disturbances would be occurred at the haat in future.

During the second day of the haat only 5 vendors were found at the haat, whereas at least 15 from the Bangladesh. It is expected that the graph of the trade volume would rise in the coming days.