Please remember suffering of public, UGs told
EMN
Dimapur, March 16
[dropcap]M[/dropcap]embers of several councils representing various areas in Dimapur have decried what they called “illegal tax collection” (often a euphemism used widely for extortion to give it a cloak of legitimacy) by Naga underground groups. The community leaders have taken stern note of the “taxation” being collected in their respective area by the armed groups.The Joint Council Forum of Dubagaon, Ekarani Pathar, Eralibill, K Holohon Colony and Aoyimti Village issued a press release on Monday iterating ban on any and all forms of taxation in the areas. The Naga underground groups are reminded to remember the sentiments of the suffering public.
“The GBs, chairmen and village council members under the jurisdiction of ‘DEEHA’ has expressed its serious concern over the rampant collection of multiple / illegal taxation by Naga political groups under its jurisdiction despite repeated appeals and reminders through various circulations and declaration in the print media over the ban imposed on multiple/ illegal taxation in its jurisdiction,” the community leader stated in the joint statement issued on March 16.
The statement said that the “collection of rampant taxes in its jurisdiction” was evident when the GBs, chairmen, village council members and elders of the forum visited the area on March 16. Multiple and ‘illegal taxation’ was being carried out on a regular basis and unabated, the organization stated.
The Joint Council Forum has once more iterated its earlier commitment to the ban against all forms of taxation within the jurisdiction.
The organization has asked the Naga “political groups” to “understand the sentiments of the suffering public.”
