Dimapur, July 28 (MExN): Another familiar story of misery in the endless string of lamentations against rampant extortion in Nagaland, petroleum dealers today vented their frustration at the “manifold factions of Nagaland” and so-stated “individual freedom fighters” whose endless range of monetary demands have reduced businessmen to now believe that ‘only a fool would continue business’ in the state.
Extortion: Wearied petroleum dealers in Dimapur threaten closure of fuel pumps
Petroleum dealers today issued a veiled warning that if the situation continues, there will be a point where the thin thread holding the petroleum business in the state, would snap. The association said it was compelled to issue the statement to keep the government and public informed in the event the oil dealers stop conducting business anymore and shut down businesses, including petrol pumps indefinitely.
Unless the government of Nagaland and the Dimapur Chamber of Commerce & Industry comes up with some tangible solution, petroleum dealers will be compelled to shut their business, the Petroleum Dealers’ Association of Nagaland said today in a letter to the Media.
The dealers’ president Hokhuli Sema and secretary Vitoxu Shohe appended the letter.
As with any other people who have businesses, the dealers reminded of the endless investment, time and energy and capital they put in their livelihood only to have another person forcibly snatch away the hard-earned fruits, is “total madness,” the association stated in frustration. In fact, the businessmen have become prisoners of their own business, the dealers said.
Referring to petroleum dealers in Nagaland, the association said they are not allowed to do business in peace. “The investment of time in trying to negotiate and reason with the manifold factions of Nagaland and the individual freedom fighters is proving to be a daily menace. The time which can be productively invested in business management is wasted in this exercise on a daily basis. The petroleum deals are drained monetarily, emotionally, psychologically and are now virtual prisoners and slaves in our own business,” the association stated.
“Investing time, energy and capital in an enterprise for just another person to snatch away under duress is total madness,” the dealers stated in misery. “Only a fool would continue a business enterprise in such an environment.”
To add to the lot, the association mentioned “compulsory annual taxation, donation, freewill help, goodwill gestures, festive donation and daily generous gifts demands of the “various manifold factions of Nagaland and individual patriotic freedom fighters” are increasing, the association.
“This situation makes it very difficult for the business to survive, forget about growth in business or even marking a profit in business,” the association said in exasperation.
Frustrated, the Petroleum Dealers Association issued a quite caution that under the current situation in Dimapur, there is only a thin thread that is holding the petroleum business. There is a threat that the thin thread would snap and in such an event, the association warned, all petroleum transactions and business in the state would be shut.
Extortion: Wearied petroleum dealers in Dimapur threaten closure of fuel pumps
Petroleum dealers today issued a veiled warning that if the situation continues, there will be a point where the thin thread holding the petroleum business in the state, would snap. The association said it was compelled to issue the statement to keep the government and public informed in the event the oil dealers stop conducting business anymore and shut down businesses, including petrol pumps indefinitely.
Unless the government of Nagaland and the Dimapur Chamber of Commerce & Industry comes up with some tangible solution, petroleum dealers will be compelled to shut their business, the Petroleum Dealers’ Association of Nagaland said today in a letter to the Media.
The dealers’ president Hokhuli Sema and secretary Vitoxu Shohe appended the letter.
As with any other people who have businesses, the dealers reminded of the endless investment, time and energy and capital they put in their livelihood only to have another person forcibly snatch away the hard-earned fruits, is “total madness,” the association stated in frustration. In fact, the businessmen have become prisoners of their own business, the dealers said.
Referring to petroleum dealers in Nagaland, the association said they are not allowed to do business in peace. “The investment of time in trying to negotiate and reason with the manifold factions of Nagaland and the individual freedom fighters is proving to be a daily menace. The time which can be productively invested in business management is wasted in this exercise on a daily basis. The petroleum deals are drained monetarily, emotionally, psychologically and are now virtual prisoners and slaves in our own business,” the association stated.
“Investing time, energy and capital in an enterprise for just another person to snatch away under duress is total madness,” the dealers stated in misery. “Only a fool would continue a business enterprise in such an environment.”
To add to the lot, the association mentioned “compulsory annual taxation, donation, freewill help, goodwill gestures, festive donation and daily generous gifts demands of the “various manifold factions of Nagaland and individual patriotic freedom fighters” are increasing, the association.
“This situation makes it very difficult for the business to survive, forget about growth in business or even marking a profit in business,” the association said in exasperation.
Frustrated, the Petroleum Dealers Association issued a quite caution that under the current situation in Dimapur, there is only a thin thread that is holding the petroleum business. There is a threat that the thin thread would snap and in such an event, the association warned, all petroleum transactions and business in the state would be shut.
Refused grocery items, cadre shoots
Dimapur, July 28 (MExN): United Sangtam region of the GPRN/NSCN today said a cadre of the “K group” opened fire on a shopkeeper in Kiphire after the underground activist was refused grocery items he demanded on credit. The Sangtam region alleged that on July 26 at around 12:30 PM, one Suthsu Pochury, a “captain” from “K group” demanded grocery items on credit from a shop owned by one Zikiba Sangtam.
“The owner declined to the demand and at which point Suthsu Pochury brandished a pistol and threatened the shopkeeper. In order to save himself from certain death, Zikiba ran outside but he was fired upon by the Suthsu Pochury. Fortunately the bullet missed him,” the GPRN/NSCN note said. Chairman of the region Sepikyu Sangtam appended the note.
Kiphire is under the jurisdiction of the ENPO and the action of the “misguided captain” is a clear violation of the ENPO resolution that ‘any party indulging in such activity shall not be tolerated.’ The note appealed – “The lives of the innocent public are in danger at the hands of such anti-social elements. It is important that the NGO’s and general public realize the futility of harboring such trigger-happy group at Kiphire town. United Sangtam Region GPRN/NSCN appeals to all peace-loving citizens not to be victimized by gun-totting elements in our own homes.”
“The owner declined to the demand and at which point Suthsu Pochury brandished a pistol and threatened the shopkeeper. In order to save himself from certain death, Zikiba ran outside but he was fired upon by the Suthsu Pochury. Fortunately the bullet missed him,” the GPRN/NSCN note said. Chairman of the region Sepikyu Sangtam appended the note.
Kiphire is under the jurisdiction of the ENPO and the action of the “misguided captain” is a clear violation of the ENPO resolution that ‘any party indulging in such activity shall not be tolerated.’ The note appealed – “The lives of the innocent public are in danger at the hands of such anti-social elements. It is important that the NGO’s and general public realize the futility of harboring such trigger-happy group at Kiphire town. United Sangtam Region GPRN/NSCN appeals to all peace-loving citizens not to be victimized by gun-totting elements in our own homes.”
