Tax and extortion: Role of the negotiator (Part-4)

Eastern Mirror Desk
Dimapur, Nov. 23: As a result of the multiple collection of money and extortion by armed Naga groups from the business community in Dimapur—reported extensively in the previous parts of this series— there are some unions formed among the traders to protect one another from illegal taxation.

In a section of downtown Dimapur, there is a union led by one person (name withheld) who helps the traders of that area in times of difficulties, related to illegal taxation and harassments. He said that the union consists of few of his ‘brothers’ who work with him to keep vigil on such activities in that particular section of the town.

While talking with Eastern Mirror over the phone, the person said that the union he is leading looks after 60 shops. “Every day, my members and I keep a close watch around our section. However, there are times when the miscreants threaten the shopkeepers with guns and demand money by force during our absence. The problem of illegal tax is exasperating,” he explained and added that members from each Naga armed groups come once annually.

The person said that he also owns a few shops where even his salespersons are harassed by miscreants in his absence. “These days we are facing a lot of problems because there are so many factions in Nagaland,” he asserted.

He explained that each of the miscreants demand money ranging from INR 50,000 to over 1,00,000 but after negotiation they end up paying below INR 10,000; sometimes even INR 500. “This is how the system is. We negotiate to lower the amount of money on behalf of the shopkeepers,” he explained.

“If we happen to meet with them (armed group members), we are compelled to settle the argument before we leave them. All the shopkeepers and shop owners under our union are dependent on us, especially the non-Nagas. They request us to look into such matters. There is an understanding between Naga businesspersons and the Naga armed groups. But not for the non-Nagas. We never know what might happen to them if left unattended, so we take the responsibility of protecting them from illegal collection,” he assured.

The person said that he takes the help of police when cases are severe. “I also request the police that my union and I will take up the matter as they cannot be there for 24 hours,” he added.

“We are not able to reject demands made by the groups because they will resort to violence. There are times when I rebuke them for such activities but instead the shopkeepers become the one to pay the price,” he lamented.

“At the most, we try not to give the exact amount of money demanded. We negotiate to reduce the ransom to a maximum of INR 5000 by making them understand what type of hardships the shopkeepers face every day,” he added.

It may be noted that the surveys conducted by this newspaper for this series was with the sole intention of highlighting the plight of traders in Dimapur who are bearing the brunt of ‘taxation and extortion’ by various groups and agencies.

For the previous parts please follow the link below:-

Part 1-Tax and extortion: Illegal appropriation vexing business
Part 2-Tax and extortion: Shopkeepers live in fear
Part 3-Tax and extortion: Why traders form groups