EMN
Dimapur, July 30
The Against Corruption & Unabated Taxation (ACAUT) has taken strong exception to allegations of extortion leveled by a local village council group against a leader of the anti-corruption organization, and has demanded an inquiry from the Dimapur district administration. The president of Purana Bazar village leveled the allegations, it was informed July 30.
Likewise, the secretary of ACAUT, Solomon L Awomi, has sought investigations into the allegations. The secretary has also said to resign from his post in the ACAUT when an inquiry committee is instituted to pave way for impartial investigation. Awomi is also stated to be the president of East Dimapur Business Association (EDBA).
The ACAUT issued a press release on Wednesday calling the allegations “serious nature.” The charges were leveled by one Hozheto Achumi, chairman of Purana Bazaar Village Council.
“ACAUT Nagaland is constrained to request the Dimapur district administration- as per the letter received from Mr. Solomon L. Awomi- to institute an inquiry committee, preferably headed by DC, Dimapur, to investigate corruption charges being alleged against our secretary,” the ACAUT stated in the press release.
“ACAUT Nagaland also feels that 2 prominent members of Naga Council and Naga Women Hoho Dimapur should also be roped in as members of the inquiry committee. This request is necessitated since the district administration is the only competent authority to institute a free and impartial probe since the allegation has been hurled by a duly government recognized village council,” the ACAUT stated in the press release that was appended by chairperson L Supong Ao and co-chairman Joel Nillo Kath.
In a separate letter issued to the media, the secretary also sought an investigation. “Since the allegations being levelled against me by Hozheto Achumi, chairman of Purana Bazaar Village Council, as published in Nagaland Post, dated 29th July, 2014 being very serious in nature, I request that the ACAUT set up an inquiry committee in whatever manner possible so as to thoroughly investigate into the matter which I believe should bring out the whole truth.”
To further ensure impartiality and fair probe, he stated, “I’ll step aside from my assigned responsibilities as soon as the inquiry committee is constituted.”
Dimapur business community rejects PBVC’s claims
In response to the allegation made against Solomon L Awomi, general secretary of ACAUT, the business community of East Dimapur today came out strongly in favor of the anti-corruption leader and said he was not involved in any extortion activities or threatening businessmen. In fact, the businessmen said, the east Dimapur businessmen were willingly contributing.
A press release was issued to the media on Wednesday by businessmen representing hardware, showroom, pharmacies, and grocery establishments defending the ACAUT leader.
The allegations of Purana Bazar Village Council is “totally baseless and Purana Bazar Village Council has done it without proper research. We the business community of East Dimapur (hardware, showroom, pharmacies, grocery Stores etc) totally stand against to which the council claims that Mr. Solomon L Awomi has been extorting money from the business community for his personal benefits,” the businessmen stated.
“It is important and necessary to know that Mr. Solomon L Awomi is also the president of East Dimapur Business Association. We the business owners community willingly contributing membership fee to the EDBA office for the management of office rent, electric bill, salaries of peon and office staff. The question of threatening businessman, illegal activities does not arise at all and unfounded, baseless,” they said.
Rejecting the village council chairman’s claims, the business community reminded that membership fees for EDBA office cannot be termed as taxation.
“We appeal to all, not mislead and misgiven about its membership fee to general public. So the business community request the village council to retract what they had publish on the paper. It is important to know that ACAUT & EDBA are on the same side and fighting for the same cause against illegal taxations,” the business owners stated.
The Purana Bazar Village Council has denounced the alleged action of one L Vitoka Awomi, who allegedly fired a gun at the official residence of one Tohoshe Awomi, chairman of Sumi Council East in Dimapur on July 29 around 10:00 A.M “which is an act of life attempt and threatening to an innocent citizen,” a note from the council stated on Wednesday.
“The incident is related to a press statement issued by the said council chairman which appeared on page 11 of Nagaland Post News on 29th July 2014. The press release does not attacked an individual rather exposed the ground realities activities of one organization before the right thinking citizens of Nagaland for the benefits of the business communities and for public awareness,” the council claimed.
The Western Sumi Youth Front (WSYF) also condemned the incident in which Vitoka L Awomi, elder brother of Solomon L. Awomi, the general secretary of ACAUT fired a SBBL12 gun and allegedly “intimidated Shri. Tohoshe Awomi, WSYF executive member, who happens to be from the same colony.”
A note from the WSYF stated that the cause of the ruckus was “believed to be in connection to the press statement published against Mr. Solomon L. Awomi by the Purana Bazaar Village Council dated 29th July 2014.”
The WSYF asserted that Tohoshe Awomi was a “responsible Sumi leader who has no misunderstanding whatsoever with the perpetrator or his family, therefore, the WSYF considers the action of Mr. Vitoka L. Awomi as a direct threat to the life of its member.”
The WSYF will intensively investigate the incident to will deliver justice to Tohoshe Awomi and an appropriate penalty to Vitoka L. Awomi “as per Sumi customary law at an earliest, hence, no such barbaric incident should recur,” the WSYF added.
