The state government is concerned about the prevailing extortion rackets everywhere in the state, home minister Imkong L Imchen said while addressing a press conference at his office here on Saturday. He also expressed hope that Naga people would appreciate the action taken by Assam Rifles personnel and Nagaland Police for checking the problem.
Imchen said the Assam Rifles and the Nagaland Police were doing their best to arrest the perpetrators but the menace still continued. "We are against the use of force and violence but stand for peaceful atmosphere in the state so that every citizen feels a sense of security and freedom" Imchen added. He, however, admitted that though peaceful atmosphere is prevailing in the state, peoples' minds were not at peace because of the forcible collection of money.
On the measure taken by the state government to check and prevent forcible collection and extortion from the government servants, the home minister said various measures like instruction to all the departments to inform the respective deputy commissioner and superintendent of police about any extortion note had been made compulsory. However, there was hardly any response and only a few cases had been reported so far.
On the increasing cases of rape in the state, Imchen said, "Rape and murder are the highest degree of crime, which should not be tolerated at any cost." He added that the intellectual community, particularly the academicians should conduct a thorough psychological study to find out whether something was seriously wrong and find remedies.