Kohima, Apr 1 : Business establishments downed shutters and commercial vehicles went off the roads here today in protest against extortion by militants and various agencies.
The 12-hour bandh, called by the Kohima Chamber of Commerce and Industries, was supported by various organisations and political parties. These included the Nagaland First Class Contractors Union, Kohima Village Council, Kohima Truck Drivers Union, All Nagaland Taxi Association, All Mini-bus Owners Association of Kohima and the Congress.
A senior member of the KCCI, Neingulie Nakhro, said the extortion had become too much for the businessmen to bear and the government had failed to curb the menace.
The KCCI said militant outfits served demand notes, ranging from Rs 5,000 to several lakhs, to all shops and business establishments which had to pay the “taxes” or face dire consequences. Even after paying the “taxes”, militants continued to extort money to fill their individual coffers.
“The system has completely collapsed in the state,” Nakhro said. “Criminals responsible for unleashing terror in our society are not booked. Even when caught by police, these people are set free by the law.”
Sources said the government and security forces have been seeking the cooperation of business community and Naga organisations to check crime, but when justice was not delivered the traders were the ultimate victims.
“After being released, the militants and criminals come back to threaten us,” Nakhro said. He demanded reforms to check terror and crime in Naga society.
Besides businessmen, militants also extort government employees, contractors and suppliers, commercial vehicles institutions and households. The situation is the same all over Nagaland but is the worst in Dimapur, the state’s commercial hub, where abductions have become the order of the day.
The KCCI said it would resort to harsher measures if the government failed to address the menace. It also protested against the mushrooming of “illegal checkgates and illegal collections” from Dimapur to Kohima.
The Manipur government had also recently expressed concern over the collections made from Manipur-bound trucks passing through Dimapur and Kohima