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“How long will the business community tolerate such summons and threats?”
DIMAPUR — Asserting that there is no end in sight to the unabated multiple taxation, intimidation and harassment against the business community by various Naga Political Groups (NPGs), the Dimapur Chamber of Commerce and Industry has resolved to go for indefinite shutter down of all shops and business establishment in Dimapur, with effect from April 26.
The shutter down will be enforced until redressal of the grievances of the business community, stated a press release issued by the DCCI media cell.
Also read: DCCI warns of indefinite shutter down
The DCCI said that it is aghast at the manner in which the Naga Political Groups (NPGs) are resorting to unimaginable tactics to extort from the business community.
“Of late, it is observed that some NPGs have gone so far as to bring their own MRP (Maximum Retail Price) sticker machines to shops with the sole intention to implicate the shop owners. Then they will call some You Tubers and news channels and allege that the shop owners are trying to manipulate the MRP. Without knowing the real motive behind such acts, these You Tubers and news channels will then upload such feeds on social media which go viral,” it said.
The trade body also claimed that another “devious strategy” used by some NPGs is to plant illegal substances in shops to tarnish the reputation of the shops.
After planting them, they then will summon the shopkeepers and penalise them with hefty fines, it said.
“Before indulging in such criminal acts, the perpetrators usually confiscate the CCTVs/DVR installed in shops to hide their illegal designs,” it added.
Maintaining that there is no let up to the harassment meted out to the business community in Dimapur by the NPGs in the form of multiple taxation, intimidation and summon letters, the DCCI informed that last week, one of the NPGs “brutally assaulted” a businessman and extorted money while they trying to abduct him. The businessman had to be hospitalised because of the severity of the assault, it said.
It went on to state that the will to survive in the competitive market is waning among the business community as the little profit they make through hard labour is being snatched away at gunpoint, leaving many households in tears.
Pointing out that the business community has to face daily harassment of being summoned to the camps and offices of the NPGs under threat, the DCCI said that due to the unfriendly business environment in Dimapur, many business houses are shifting from Dimapur to neighbouring town in Assam, where the price of goods and materials are much cheaper.
“How long will the business community tolerate such summons and threats?” the DCCI asked and added that since there is no end in sight to the unabated multiple taxation, intimidation and summons, the DCCI has resolved to go for indefinite shutter down of all shops and business establishment in Dimapur with effect from April 26.
“For the umpteenth time, DCCI requests the state government and law enforcing agencies to take immediate steps to protect the business community before situation spirals out of hand. The government and its agencies can no longer afford to ignore what the business community is going through,” the release stated.
Further, the DCCI reminded the business community not to entertain any call or summons to visit offices of different NPGs without the knowledge of the trade body. The DCCI also clarified that the business community is not against any group or factions, only against multiple taxation and extortion.
Also, for their own safety, shopkeepers and traders have been informed not to entertain or keep any article or belonging of customers or strangers in their shops.
Meanwhile, the DCCI requested the civil society organisations and public at large to bear with the inconveniences due to the proposed indefinite shutter down, and to lend their support and cooperation for the interest and welfare of all citizens.