Nagaland Deputy Chief Minister Y Patton and others address a press conference in Kohima on April 29. (Morung Photo)
Our Correspondent
Kohima | April 29
Nagaland’s Deputy Chief Minister Y Patton today assured that the State Government will leave no stone unturned over any form of illegal activities in the state while urging the DCCI and CNCCI to call off the ongoing indefinite shutter down keeping in view the hassles faced by the common people.
Addressing a press conference here in Kohima, he informed the Dimapur Chamber of Commerce and Industries (DCCI) has called for the indefinite shutter down to express its strong resentment against extortion by multiple groups imposed upon the business community.
The Deputy Commissioner, Dimapur having sensed the gravity and consequences of such proposed shutter down convened a meeting with all the stakeholders on April 24, he said.
As per Patton, the meeting could conclude positively as the DCCI insisted that the Government should respond to their grievances and to review the Cease Fire Agreement Ground Rules for strict implementation.
In this connection, Patton said that the State government has written to the Commissioner, Nagaland and Director General of Police (DGP) on April 25 to step up measures to check such illegal activities of extortion by multiple groups along with appeal to the DCCI to lift the proposed indefinite shutter down. The shutter-down went ahead on April 26.
The issue of multiple extortion and harassment meted to the business community of Dimapur was listed as one the agenda in the Cabinet Meeting held on April 26, he added.
After thorough deliberations, the Cabinet has decided to inform the Chairman, CMG/CFSB immediately through the Commissioner, Nagaland and DGP, to enforce strict implementation of ground rules of ceasefire and that the culprits will be booked under NSA and detained outside the State, Patton added.
Thereafter, the Cabinet’s decisions were conveyed to the Commissioner Nagaland and DGP for urgent follow up action and accordingly, the DGP acted immediately by writing to the Chairman CMG/CFSB with a request that the various groups to be advised absolute adherence to Cease Fire Ground Rules and that no unauthorised and illegal activities undertaken by the groups to vitiate the law and order situations in the State and create unrest among the business community in the State, particularly Dimapur, he said.
The Deputy CM also informed that the Staff Officer for Chairman CMG/CFSB responded that such illegal activities were a cause of concern for some time and deliberated in several CMG /CFSB meetings in the past and again has been highlighted with the various groups.
The Deputy Chief Minister, who is in charge of Home Department, shared with the press a statement mentioning the various measures initiated by the Government in combating such illegal activities.
He also informed that the DCCI submitted 5 ‘Charter of Demands’ in a letter addressed to Chief Minister in connection to the indefinite shutter down.
The State Government after carefully examining the charter as well as taking input of Chairman CMG/CFSB, is of the opinion that the activities mentioned in the DCCI letter are against the relevant laws of the land and invite appropriate legal action, he said.
Accordingly, he asserted that the State Government did not remain silent over the problem of extortion by multiple groups in Nagaland.
The Government took serious note of the issue and directed DGP, Nagaland to take stringent action against illegal activities, he added.
The indefinite shutter down was later called off in the evening.
