Members of Dimapur Chamber of Commerce & Industry led by its President Hokivi Chishi (extreme right with shades) taking out a march on Tuesday July 5 to protest the insecurity prevailing in the state’s main commercial hub. (Photo by Caisii Mao)
DIMAPUR, JULY 5 (MExN): The six-hour business shutdown called by the Dimapur Chamber of Commerce & Industry on Tuesday, July 5 (DCCI) went off peacefully. The much harassed business community of the town today gathered at the Deluxe Point making known their displeasure at the current state of insecurity prevailing in the state’s main commercial hub. Led by the DCCI and Frontal Business Organisations (FBO) the protestors, numbering a few hundreds, marched to the Deputy Commissioner’s residence where they submitted a representation addressed to the Chief Minister.
The representation urged the state government to arrest the culprits responsible for the deadly bomb attack at a cement retail outlet, 3rd Mile, Dimapur on June 30 last. That ghastly incident resulted in the dead of an innocent civilian while injuring three others. “The DCCI along with the FBO urges the State Government to arrest the culprits and bring them to book at the earliest. We reiterate that we will extend full cooperation to the State Government and the law enforcing agencies in this regard,” read an excerpt of the text made public.
It however, came with the catch that if the district administration and the police fail to respond with timely action: “the DCCI will be constrained to go ahead with its own course of programmes of protests in order to safeguard the interest of business community and also the general public.”
“… Time and again over the recent months, the business community of Dimapur has been burdened with all kinds of extortions and threats by anti-social elements who terrorise the businessmen in the name of various factions. The business community has also been paying annual tax and other taxes to various underground organizations as per their demand.” Despite, the representation rued that the business community of Dimapur continue to be burdened with more ‘taxes’ without respite whatsoever, even though the demands are met.
It continued: “The latest incident… has come as a rude awakening to the fact that the business community has to bear the brunt of the crisis within a particular organization which has created fear psychosis in the minds of the people in general and the business community in particular.” Thus, it called upon the state government to take the measures necessary and appropriate to ensure the security of the business community from disruptive elements, who disturb normal business activities with random acts of violence.
Later addressing media persons at the DCCI office, President Hokivi Chishi aired that if the current trend continues, the businesses will be compelled to increase the prices of commodities, which ultimately would negatively impact the consumers. “Business is our profession, if the state government agencies fail to give us security then we have no other option,” he said. The DCCI is just as much responsible for regulating market price but at the same time also have to keep in mind the interest of the business community, he added.
On another note, he appealed the public as well as the consumer society to come forward without any hesitation and raise any grievances they may have against the functioning of the market with the DCCI.
The DCCI further expressed appreciation to all individuals who have assisted the chamber in holding the day’s programme without a hitch. It particularly thanked the chief advisor of the Dimapur Municipal Council, chairman of the Purana Bazaar Ad-Hoc Town Council, Chumukedima Town Council for their solidarity, former members of the DMC, Dimapur Naga Council & other NGOs, all frontal business organizations, Nagaland Medical Dealers Association and the police for the security arrangement.
Identities of culprits established: DC Dimapur
The Deputy Commissioner, Dimapur responding to the representation assured the sincerity of the administrative machinery in the matter. According to the DC the identities of the culprits have been established, who are said to be from the ‘NSCN-K’. Taking into consideration the gravity of the crime, the persons responsible, when caught will be liable to be booked under the stringent National Security Act, he said. He asserted that the government will not allow any elements, abetting disorder, to dominate the town. On the contrary, only the police and other government forces will dominate the security of the town, he assured.
The representation urged the state government to arrest the culprits responsible for the deadly bomb attack at a cement retail outlet, 3rd Mile, Dimapur on June 30 last. That ghastly incident resulted in the dead of an innocent civilian while injuring three others. “The DCCI along with the FBO urges the State Government to arrest the culprits and bring them to book at the earliest. We reiterate that we will extend full cooperation to the State Government and the law enforcing agencies in this regard,” read an excerpt of the text made public.
It however, came with the catch that if the district administration and the police fail to respond with timely action: “the DCCI will be constrained to go ahead with its own course of programmes of protests in order to safeguard the interest of business community and also the general public.”
“… Time and again over the recent months, the business community of Dimapur has been burdened with all kinds of extortions and threats by anti-social elements who terrorise the businessmen in the name of various factions. The business community has also been paying annual tax and other taxes to various underground organizations as per their demand.” Despite, the representation rued that the business community of Dimapur continue to be burdened with more ‘taxes’ without respite whatsoever, even though the demands are met.
It continued: “The latest incident… has come as a rude awakening to the fact that the business community has to bear the brunt of the crisis within a particular organization which has created fear psychosis in the minds of the people in general and the business community in particular.” Thus, it called upon the state government to take the measures necessary and appropriate to ensure the security of the business community from disruptive elements, who disturb normal business activities with random acts of violence.
Later addressing media persons at the DCCI office, President Hokivi Chishi aired that if the current trend continues, the businesses will be compelled to increase the prices of commodities, which ultimately would negatively impact the consumers. “Business is our profession, if the state government agencies fail to give us security then we have no other option,” he said. The DCCI is just as much responsible for regulating market price but at the same time also have to keep in mind the interest of the business community, he added.
On another note, he appealed the public as well as the consumer society to come forward without any hesitation and raise any grievances they may have against the functioning of the market with the DCCI.
The DCCI further expressed appreciation to all individuals who have assisted the chamber in holding the day’s programme without a hitch. It particularly thanked the chief advisor of the Dimapur Municipal Council, chairman of the Purana Bazaar Ad-Hoc Town Council, Chumukedima Town Council for their solidarity, former members of the DMC, Dimapur Naga Council & other NGOs, all frontal business organizations, Nagaland Medical Dealers Association and the police for the security arrangement.
Identities of culprits established: DC Dimapur
The Deputy Commissioner, Dimapur responding to the representation assured the sincerity of the administrative machinery in the matter. According to the DC the identities of the culprits have been established, who are said to be from the ‘NSCN-K’. Taking into consideration the gravity of the crime, the persons responsible, when caught will be liable to be booked under the stringent National Security Act, he said. He asserted that the government will not allow any elements, abetting disorder, to dominate the town. On the contrary, only the police and other government forces will dominate the security of the town, he assured.
