DIMAPUR:
The government, on June 1, informed that of the 34 gates in the state, 21 have been closed and the rest 11 are operating as they are inter-state check gates.
Giving an overview of the scenario, Nagaland chief secretary J Alam said that the deputy commissioners of all the districts and other officials have gone to various check gates to oversee the closure of the check gates and two phone numbers are operating 24×7 with able officers to help in checking illegal collection of money.
Alam also made an ardent appeal to the public to give information about any illegal taxation or collection.
DGP Longkumer said that the order for closure of check gates was enforced from May 20, a day after the notification in this regard was issued by the government. He also said that, so far, eight complaints were received and six complaints were found to be actionable.
Longlumer added that six FIRs were lodged in different police stations and investigations are underway. He appealed to the people to cooperate with the security forces and inform the police at the earliest about any illegal activities.
Earlier on May 19, the Nagaland government had ordered immediate closure of all police and other check gates, except the existing inter-state check gates, to combat illegal collection of money from the vehicles at check gates and other locations in the state.
Meanwhile, four Dimapur-based organisations have appealed to the authority concerned to partially reconsider the blanket ban on the tax levied by the Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC).
At a meeting on May 30, the Dimapur Urban Chairmen Council Federation, GB Union Dimapur (Sardar), Dimapur Naga Students’ Union and Naga Women Hoho Dimapur deliberated on certain directives issued in the May 19 government notification, which could potentially cause inconvenience and confusion to the resident of Dimapur urban areas in view of the blanket ban on utility fees levied by the DMC.
The organisations expressed apprehension that the DMC’s functioning and the services it rendered to the public of Dimapur would be compromised if it was disallowed to levy certain utility fees.