Drug shop owners up in arms against drug official

Jamshedpur: Members of Jamshedpur Chemists and Druggists Association today announced their unanimous decision to wage a campaign against Sumant Tiwary, licensing officer of Kolhan for allegedly showing highhandedness.

The outfit president Pankaj Chhabra, speaking to scribes at Hotel Yashwee International, Sakchi, on Tuesday, said, �The chemists and druggists of the city are a harassed lot due to the licensing officer of Kolhan division. Sumant Tiwary who was the district drug inspector has been causing harassment to drug shop owners on one pretext or the other every now and then. This is why we have decided to put an end to our misery by waging a battle against such an attitude of government�s drug officials of his likes.�

Ashish Chaterjee, general secretary, of the Association, alleged that Tiwary used to conduct raids at drugs shops in order to extort the shop owners. �We will submit a memorandum each to all senior officials of Kolhan division against Tiwari. If our demand for taking action against him is not fulfilled within 15 days, all medical shops of Kolhan will be closed,� said Chatterjee said.

The president of Singhbhum Chamber of Commerce and Industry Suresh Sonthalia was also present during the meeting of the Association. He assured to extend support to the drug store owners.