This press note is necessitated to clarify our stand with regard to the ongoing impasse between the undersigned lessees and the former DMC Advisor i/c Tolls and Revenue.
Firstly, for the information of the esteemed readers and public, when the NPCC highlighted the financial irregularities pertaining to the revenue section of the DMC in the local dailies on June 30, 2012, that very day, the former DMC Advisor in charge of toll and revenue called a meeting of all the lessees at Zhimomi Apartments opposite DMC Office.
During the said meeting, the former DMC Advisor attempted to convince the lessees to sign a declaration that they (lessees) had not paid any commission to him. When some of the lessees refused to accede to sign the declaration and demanded refund of the money they (lessees) had paid, he snapped his finger in a derogatory manner and threatened to see the lessees in a court of law and send them to jail if they (lessees) could not provide any proof or evidence knowing fully well that he has not given any receipt even though he had received money from the lessees.
Having left with no other option to prove ourselves that we had paid the money, in god faith, we decided to approach the Sumi Naga customary court of Western Sumi Kukami Hoho since it is the apex body of the Western Sumis and since both parties belong to Sumi Tribe (Western Sumi). As far as we are concerned, our issue is with the former DMC Advisor i/c of tolls and revenue who has taken money from us and is now denying it and threatening us with legal action.
Our approach to the esteemed office of the Western Sumi Kukami Hoho is purely for settlement of this issue as per Sumi Naga customary/traditional oath which we are prepared to take to prove that we have paid the money. Whether the former DMC Advisor i/c tolls and revenue is prepared to swear on customary oath that he has not taken any money from us, is up to him. We have never at any point of time said or demanded that the probe into the DMC financial irregularities should be handed over to the office of the WSKH.
We the aggrieved lessees were compelled to publish in the local dailies since our names had already been highlighted. We are also compelled to clarify that our approach to the esteemed office of the WSKH is not meant to tarnish the good image of the Sumis or mislead anyone, but to seek justice as per Sumi Naga customary law and procedure as protected in Article 371 (A) of the Constitution of India which also protects administration of civil and criminal justice involving decisions according to Naga customary law. Lastly, it is pertinent to mention that we near no personal grudge against anyone and we are prepared to withdraw our case anytime so long as our money which we have paid, is returned to us since any case, State Government has ordered blanket ban on collection of toll tax.
Kakuho Sumi
On behalf of aggrieved lessees/contractors
