Dimapur, April 26 (EMN): Two business establishments ran by Naga entrepreneurs in Dimapur’s supermarket area have recently closed business “out of fear” of threats issued by members of NSCN (IM), according to the Business Association of Nagas (BAN).
The business association issued a press release on Wednesday expressing disgust at the turn of events. “BAN is disgusted with the recent incident where on 20 April 2017 a cadre from NSCN (IM) led by the supervisor came to supermarket area and started checking the shops run by Naga entrepreneurs namely: Daily feed, Clothing World, Hot Topic, Liz’s studio, American boutique, The Blossom, The Shop and Furtados. “During the process of checking the shop they objected for selling imported and locally produced products especially clothes for putting up price tags and some in some shops for selling without price tags and further went on threatening with section IPC 420 for price manipulations”, it stated.
The next day, it stated, the shop owners were summoned to ‘a restaurant below Hotel Crown in Nagarjan junction’ at 10 am and were asked to pay Rs 50000 penalty. “On defying to pay the amount, on request not to impose such unreasonable penalty, they reduced the demand amount to Rs 20,000 (Rupees Twenty Thousand only) which was to be submitted the same day before 2 pm or face blacklisting of the shops through daily papers.
“The harassment went on and on 22nd April 2017, again they visited the shops and threatened the shop owners and employee, using abusive languages and un-parliamentary words, threatening that if they don’t comply they will face dire consequences. Subsequently and unfortunately, out of fear two shops put their shutter down”, the statement informed.
The association reminded that Nagaland was ‘not a regulated and controlled market but a free and competitive market and the consumers have the choice to buy or not to buy depending on pricing and as per their likes and dislike.’
“Therefore, BAN strongly demands that the cadres refrain from harassing Naga entrepreneurs making exposing (sic) their ignorance by going to any (Sic) extract money and shame the entire organisation. BAN further appeals the law enforcing agencies to be more pro-active and look into the matter,” it stated.
