Dimapur, September 5 (MExN): For decades now, the State of Nagaland as also the larger society has been plagued by rampant extortion and all kinds of illegal practices. Unfortunately, the governments over the years have failed to undertake any effective remedial measures in this regard. Shockingly even government employees are indulging in various shades of extortion. And the desperation or the love for extortion knows no bound for the Nagas. Three separate incidents of extortion were reported in the last 12 hours.
With the reports of collections of money from the vehicles coming up in Jotsoma By-Pass road, the Jotsoma Youth Organisation (JYO) volunteers on duty apprehended three person Mr. D. Khape S/o. Meze of Khezhakeno Village, Mr. Sukio Lotha S/o. Tsuren of Pongitong Village and Mr. Temsu S/o. Sawa of Mongseyimte Village on the 5th September 2010 at around 2:00 a.m. while extorting money from the stranded vehicles at NH-39 from its jurisdiction. The accused were punished as per the existing rules of the village.
The Jotsoma Youth Organisation has once again requested the public for co-operation during this difficult situation. A press note issued by the JYO stated that it will continue to keep vigil for any situation that may disrupt the peaceful atmosphere in its jurisdiction and appealed to the public to report such anti-social elements immediately.
In another related incident, the NNC expressed pain that some imposters in the name and style of Government of Naga National Council had been found writing to the business community especially in Dimapur area asking for financial help on the ground of yearly assistance for the current financial year 2010-11. According to a press note from the Information & Publicity Wing of the NNC one Kughato Sumi in the name of Secretary Chaplee NNC was doing “this dirty job in the name of NNC Government”. “This imposter is doing this business at his own risk and the NNC is not responsible for any thing in this matter”, stated the press note.
Therefore, the business community in any place or offices should be aware of such imposter for collection of help or taxes etc in the name of NNC, it informed. The following mobile number can be contacted for any information: 9862378836,9612409273,9862111725,9436249215.
Meanwhile, the Merhiima Khel Youth Organization of Khonoma village has also stated that it was “enraged by the heinous extortion crime committed” by two of its members “in our soil on the 4th of September, 2010. According to a press note issued by Vikongu Khate, President Merhiima Youth Organization, Khonoma Village, the two culprits, Mr. Thezielhukho Chase alias Khokho S/o, Lt.Nisakhoto Chase and Dziiviriato Savino S/o Lt.Visakhoto Savino were caught red-handed by the youth organization in the act of extorting cash from the passing vehicles in the event of traffic diversion due to road reparation at Jotsoma village by-pass road. “This unscrupulous extortion was carried out using the name of MYO without any sanction as such. It is learnt that the two goons have collected a total sum of rupees 250”, it was informed.
The Youth Organization informed that it had penalized the two culprits both for extortion and defiling the Organization’s name on both counts. The organization also apologized for the inconveniences created through this dubious action from the victims and expressed regret that such an unfortunate incident occurred in its soil. The victims of that unfaithful day have been told to contact the Merhiima Youth Organization President through this number-9856336313.
