Dimapur, Feb 20 (MExN): Responding swiftly to widespread public complaints on rampant ‘taxes’ being collected particularly from business establishments and commercial vehicles under various pretexts, by civil societies, in and round Dimapur district, the Dimapur District administration along with the District Police department has launched an intensive drive against NGOs collecting illegal taxes, ‘who are not authorized to collect any sort.’
In a related matter to the drive, the administration has de-recognized two organizations namely, the Nagaland Trees Plantation Union and the Nagaland Earthen Pots Union for collecting money from the public without any authority. DC Ngullie in an official order warned that any person(s) found using letter pads or collecting money from the public in the name of the two above mentioned unions would be arrested.
The District administration has so far, also arrested several members of some Dimapur-based local organizations involved in exacting so-called taxes on business establishments and commercial vehicles. However, the identities of the arrested persons or the organizations were not disclosed.
“NGOs have no right to impose or collect taxes. We have started taking action against them” said Nzimongo Ngullie, Dimapur Deputy Commissioner. He informed that the administration in active co-operation with the Police department had launched an intensive drive against the illegal collections/organizations, some time back.
The DC also disclosed that process to identify culpable unions and associations based in Dimapur were already underway. He said that they would be identified and arrested. “Those indulging in collecting taxes will be identified, the process which is still going on, and they will be arrested” DC Ngullie assured.
Police officials also said that the drive would go on as long as required and for the time being it was being done on corrective-measure basis and it would be intensified.
.jpg)
