Keeping in mind the taxation by numerous Naga Political Groups (NPGs) the Dimapur Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) has called for an indefinite shutter down of business establishments from April 26.
Taking serious note of these rampant illegal activities, DCCI in a statement, informed that a shutter down would be enforced throughout Dimapur city, until the grievances of the business community were redressed.
DCCI also requested civil society organisations and public at large to bear with the inconveniences owing to the proposed indefinite shutter down and to lend support and cooperation with the closure in the interest and welfare of all citizens. DCCI has also expressed shock at the manner in which the Naga political groups (NPGs) were resorting to unimaginable tactics to extort from the business community such as making shops display their ‘Maximum Retail Price (MRP)’ stickers with the sole intention of implicating the shop owners.
DCCI said the NPGs would then create a situation over alleged violation of their MRP and invite some YouTubers and news channels to accuse shop owners of trying to manipulate the MRP. It said YouTubbers and other media houses, who were ignorant of the real motive behind such acts, would then upload such feeds on social media that go viral. DCCI disclosed another “devious strategy” of some NPGs was to plant illegal substances in shops to tarnish the reputation of the shops. Such items were then used as pretext to summon the shopkeepers who would be penalised with hefty fines.
Prior to indulging in such criminal acts, DCCI said first, the perpetrators usually confiscate the CCTVs/DVR installed in shops to hide their illegal designs.
According to DCCI there was no let up on such harassment meted out to the business community in Dimapur by the NPGs including imposition of multiple taxation, intimidation and summon letters.
Only last week, DCCI disclosed that one of the NPGs brutally assaulted a businessman and extorted money while trying to abduct him. The businessman had to be hospitalised because of the severity of the assault, it claimed.
As stated earlier, DCCI lamented that the will to survive in the competitive market was waning among the business community since the little margin of profit they earned through hard labour was being snatched away at gunpoint and leaving many households in tears.
DCCI reiterated that the business community continue to face the daily harassment of being summoned to the camps and offices of the NPGs under threat.
In view of such unhealthy and hostile business environment, DCCI said many business houses were shifting from Dimapur to neighbouring towns in Assam which have made price of goods and materials much cheaper than in Dimapur. DCCI wondered how long the business community would tolerate such summons and threats.
Further, DCCI said it has been urging upon the state government and law enforcing agencies umpteenth number of times to take immediate steps to protect the business community before the situation spiralled out of hand adding that the government and its agencies could no longer afford to ignore what the business community were going through.
DCCI also reminded the business community not to entertain any call or summons to report to the offices of various NPGs without its knowledge. It also clarified that the business community was not against any group or faction, but only against multiple taxation and extortion.
DCCI has asked shopkeepers and traders for their own safety never to entertain or keep any article or belonging of customers or strangers in their shops.
It may be noted that with proliferation of factions, Dimapur is now the capital of 24 NPGs undertaking illegal and multiple tax collections that has made Dimapur as the extortion capital of the state.
Meanwhile, various organizations have extended support to DCCI. DC Dimapur has called various business organizations for a meeting on April 24 to discuss the proposed shutter down.
- Inputs from Nagaland Post