Dimapur, May 21 (EMN): The All Nagaland Taxi Association of Mokokchung (ANTA) has expressed displeasure that the security forces detained the group’s president over an incident associated with ‘delivering’ an extortion letter from one of the underground groups.
The ANTA issued a press release to the media on Sunday stating
According to the organisation, its president I Tali Jamir was ‘abducted’ by personnel of the 44th Assam Rifles on Saturday, May 20 at around 5:00-6:00 AM.
“The ANTAM president on May 20, 2017 morning had gone to collect a demand letter issued by one of the Naga Political Groups (NPGs) at the Alino bus counter when some Assam Rifles personnel in civilian dress simply forced him into a car and drove him away to the 44th AR Camp for ‘questioning’ before subsequently handing him over to the Mokokchung Police Station–I,” the press release stated.
However, the organisation stated, on failing to find “any substantial wrong doing” on the part of Jamir, he was released.
“However, this unwarranted action of the 44th Assam Rifles has caused a lot of mental harassment on the respected ANTAM president and also a fear psychosis among the taxi drivers in Mokokchung district,” the organisation stated.
Nonetheless, the group admitted that as do other organisations and business communities, the taxi association also get served “demand letter” from different groups especially the “Naga Political Groups” (NPGs). When such extortion letters come, the press release explained, it is the “responsibility of the office bearers to deal with such demand letters.”
Therefore, the association stated, “abducting” their president “simply because of a letter sent in his ‘care of’ is uncalled for, unwarranted, and utterly brutish.” The press release claimed that their action had caused fear psychosis “among the association members simply because this action, if not addressed carefully, would leave a bad precedent which would compromise the security and dignity of our service not only in Mokokchung but also in the whole of Nagaland.”
The ANTAM has appealed to the public and security agencies to “understand the hardships of the ANTAM members” and “understand that we are also responsible citizens trying to serve the public in our own humble way.”
The organisation has expressed gratitude to persons and organisations that rendered help during the time.
