Kohima: Amid widespread protests against the rampant “illegal taxation” by Naga Political Groups (NPGs) in Nagaland, the state government has declared a stringent enforcement of the Ceasefire Ground Rules (CFGR) and the apprehension of extortionists under the National Security Act (NSA).
Deputy Chief Minister and minister of Home and Border Affairs, Yanthungo Patton announced this decision during a press conference held at the Civil Secretariat in Kohima.
The move comes in response to escalating concerns over multiple instances of extortion and harassment faced by the business community in Dimapur by various groups.
Such activities, he said, should not be termed as “taxation” as it is “purely extortion”. The home minister assured that culprits engaging in extortion, as per complaints received, would be booked under the law and the NSA.
Patton clarified that while no public complaints regarding extortion have been lodged, the Nagaland Police took registered 85 suo moto cases in the past six months.
In this regard, he urged the public to have confidence in the state police. He assured that the confidentiality of informers would be maintained.
The Dimapur Chamber of Commerce and Industries (DCCI) had initiated an indefinite shutter down since April 26, which later extended to the entire state under the Confederation of Nagaland Chamber of Commerce and Industries (CNCCI).
The shutter down was lifted on Monday evening after the state government responded to the DCCI’s five-point charter of Demands.
Patton informed that as the issue was raised, the state cabinet deliberated on the matter on April 26.
“The Cabinet after thorough deliberations on the matter has decided to inform the Chairman, CFMG/CFSB immediately through the Commissioner, Nagaland and Director General of Police, Nagaland to enforce strict implementation of ground rules of cease fire and that the culprits will be booked under NSA and detained outside the State,” he said.
This decision, he said, was conveyed to the Commissioner Nagaland and DGP, Nagaland for urgent follow up action. Accordingly, the DGP initiated action by immediately written to the Chairman of the Ceasefire Monitoring Group (CFMG)/Ceasefire Supervisory Board (CFSB) with a request that these various groups be advised to adhere to the CFGR and that “no unauthorised and illegal activities undertaken by the groups do not vitiate the law-and-order situations in the State and created unrest among the business community in the State particularly Dimapur”.
“The Staff Officer for Chairman CFMG/CFSB responded that such illegal activities were a cause of concern for some time which was deliberated in several meetings of the CFMG /CFSB in the past and this issue has again been highlighted with the various groups,” Patton said.
He said that the State Government after carefully examining the Charter of Demands of DCCI and the response/clarification by the Chairman CFMG/CFSB, is of the opinion that the activities mentioned in the DCCI letter are against the relevant laws of the land and invite appropriate legal action.
While the DCCI had questioned the legality of “taxation” imposed by the NPGs, the state government clarified that it “is fully against any illegal taxation or forcible demand or collection by any group or entity or individual in the State”.
It said that the GST or any other legal tax is to be paid only to the State Government by any business organisation or individual.
Further, the government said that only the statutory bodies/ law enforcement agencies of the State Government are empowered to issue summons to anyone who is in conflict with the law. As summons by any other group/entity/individual is illegal, the government advised aggrieved person(s) to approach the law enforcing authorities for redressal of their grievances.
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He informed that the state government did not remain silent over the problem of extortion by multiple groups in Nagaland.
“The government will leave no stone unturned over any form of illegal activities in the State of Nagaland and that it is the fervent appeal of the State Government upon the DCCI and CNCCI to call off the ongoing indefinite shutter down keeping in view the hassles faced by the common people,” Patton said.
Also Read | Nagaland: Indefinite shutter down in protest against unabated taxation