DIMAPUR, JULY 1 : Business and daily commercial interactions of citizens in Dimapur were severely affected again on Friday when business establishments and shops across the city went on a confused hiatus following speculations that closure was called for July 1 to mark the demise of an underground leader recently.
No call for closure on July 1 was given by any organization except by a business organization that called for one but for June 30, Thursday.
The June 30 closure, not for July 1, was requested by the Dimapur Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI), as a tribute to demised chairman of NSCN/GPRN Isak Chishi Swu.
A telephonic conversation with the president of the DCCI, Hokivi Chishi, on Friday, concerning the confusion among the business community of Dimapur, revealed the contrary. He made clear that no directive to close shops on July 1 was given. Also, he said that no organization, and without the consent of the DCCI, are to close markets and businesses at any cost.
The DCCI leader remarked that Assam-based Hindi news dailies may have stated about a purported call for closure for July 1. Because most of the business establishments in Dimapur are run by non-local persons, the report may have passed from one to another before spreading, the DCCI president hypothesized.
‘Dozens’ of business owners who called him concerning the matter were all directed to open their shops ‘without any fear,’ it was informed. However, no shop was seen with open shutters in the district that time.
Nonetheless, there seems to be an indication that some miscreants may have forced the fear to spread: firsthand information provided by an owner of a local business establishment said that a number of unidentified men had come to his shop after seeing the shutters of his shop open.
The unidentified men reportedly warned the business owner to close shop ‘in order to avoid unwanted situation.’ The shopkeeper also said that the unidentified men did not disclose their identity when asked about the name of their organization. Also, some of the commercial outlets were told to open for the day but were dissuaded on claims of reports that ‘today is also bandh.’ Knowing the angle about undergrounds, the shops of course naturally would not want to take any chance by opening business.
No shop closure on July 2 : DCCI clarifies
The DCCI has issued a statement stating against closing business, which the organization said disturb the normal life of the public. The organization issued a brief notice on Friday clarifying that there would be no closure of business on July 2 as well. All business activities in the town are to ‘function’ normally, DCCI’s president Chishi informed in the notice.
“There is a lot of confusion among the public as to whether there will be closure of business establishments in Dimapur tomorrow (July 2) also. This is to clarify that there will be no closure of business establishments tomorrow and all businesses will function normally,” the notice stated.
“This is to further clarify that the DCCI did not issue any directive nor appealed for business closure on July 1 which hampered normal life of the public,” the organization stated.
“This is to further clarify that the DCCI did not issue any directive nor appealed for business closure on July 1 which hampered normal life of the public,” the organization stated.
Members of the public and the business community in Dimapur may contact the phone numbers 9436004447 or 9089617896 for further details, the DCCI added.
