Kohima | July 22 : Expressing serious concern over continuing extortion and taxations being carried out, particularly in Dimapur and other urban areas in the name of Naga underground factions, Nagaland Home Minister Imkong L. Imchen today, more or less, expressed frustration over the continuing spate of extortions and taxation despite the best efforts of the Nagaland Police, the Assam Rifles and government agencies. He has also made an appeal to the leadership of the underground groups to restrain their cadres. The state government, however, is doing everything in its power to check the menace of extortions and taxations by both underground organizations and private parties, he revealed.
Interacting with newspersons at his official chambers today, the Home Minister revealed that while most of the extortion and taxation are being done or indulged by cadres belonging to the various underground groups, some private parties having no affiliation with the underground organizations are also indulging in taxation and extortion taking advantage of the prevailing situation.
“Almost every underground cadre is involved in the extortion and taxation”, the Home Minister said while expressing concern that as some private parties are also taking advantage of the prevailing situation and using the name of the factions in extorting money from the public, businessmen and even government servants. Ultimately the blame goes to the underground groups, he said.
The Home Minister expressed resentment that the groups, particularly the NSCN (IM) and NSCN (K), while signing the ceasefire agreement which states that they would not indulge in extortion or forceful collection of money, are still forcibly collecting money from public and even government officers and termed it as total violation committed by both factions of their accord.
“Underground cadres sometimes collect officially but the worst thing is almost every individual cadre is extorting in the name of their organizations and public are the sufferers”, the Home Minister lamented.
Asserting that the Nagaland Police and the Assam Rifles are doing their level best in preventing and arresting perpetrators, the menace of extortion still continues. He further sought to reassert the government’s commitment towards peace and ensuring security to its citizens insisting that the government’s forces are against the use of force or violence.
“Peaceful atmosphere is prevailing but people’s minds are not happy because of extortion”, he said and assured that the government, with its various mechanisms, is stepping up efforts to contain the menace. He also expressed hope that the people will learn to appreciate the efforts of the police, the Assam Rifles and other agencies towards this endeavour.
Imchen also wasted no breath in blaming the judiciary in frustrating the efforts of the police, administration and the law-enforcing agencies by releasing persons booked for extortion immediately upon arrest. He cited some examples where persons arrested for extortion were ordered to be released by the court even before police could complete their chargesheet reports.
Taking the example of yesterday’s release of extortionists, the Home Minister said the release of the extortionists upon arrest had come as a major discouragement to the law-enforcing agencies.
Interacting with newspersons at his official chambers today, the Home Minister revealed that while most of the extortion and taxation are being done or indulged by cadres belonging to the various underground groups, some private parties having no affiliation with the underground organizations are also indulging in taxation and extortion taking advantage of the prevailing situation.
“Almost every underground cadre is involved in the extortion and taxation”, the Home Minister said while expressing concern that as some private parties are also taking advantage of the prevailing situation and using the name of the factions in extorting money from the public, businessmen and even government servants. Ultimately the blame goes to the underground groups, he said.
The Home Minister expressed resentment that the groups, particularly the NSCN (IM) and NSCN (K), while signing the ceasefire agreement which states that they would not indulge in extortion or forceful collection of money, are still forcibly collecting money from public and even government officers and termed it as total violation committed by both factions of their accord.
“Underground cadres sometimes collect officially but the worst thing is almost every individual cadre is extorting in the name of their organizations and public are the sufferers”, the Home Minister lamented.
Asserting that the Nagaland Police and the Assam Rifles are doing their level best in preventing and arresting perpetrators, the menace of extortion still continues. He further sought to reassert the government’s commitment towards peace and ensuring security to its citizens insisting that the government’s forces are against the use of force or violence.
“Peaceful atmosphere is prevailing but people’s minds are not happy because of extortion”, he said and assured that the government, with its various mechanisms, is stepping up efforts to contain the menace. He also expressed hope that the people will learn to appreciate the efforts of the police, the Assam Rifles and other agencies towards this endeavour.
Imchen also wasted no breath in blaming the judiciary in frustrating the efforts of the police, administration and the law-enforcing agencies by releasing persons booked for extortion immediately upon arrest. He cited some examples where persons arrested for extortion were ordered to be released by the court even before police could complete their chargesheet reports.
Taking the example of yesterday’s release of extortionists, the Home Minister said the release of the extortionists upon arrest had come as a major discouragement to the law-enforcing agencies.
