Our Correspondent
Kohima, June 1 (EMN): At least eight calls have been received at the control room set up by the Nagaland police after the closure of all intrastate check gates to curb illegal collection of money in the state.
This was informed by Chief Secretary J Alam on Wednesday in an interaction with journalists at his conference hall at Nagaland Civil Secretariat, Kohima along with the Home Commissioner Abhijit Sinha and Director General of Police (DGP) T John Longkumer.
The chief secretary said that out of the eight communications were received on the mobile phone numbers by the police, two were ‘testings’ and six were actionable information, which the police are taking further follow-up action.
He stated that the authorities have been implementing the order to close check gates within the state in letter and in spirit, ever since the state government issued the directive on May 19. Subsequently, 21 out of 34 check gates had been closed, while 13 interstate check gates continue to operate.
With regard to the two staff of Geology and Mining department in Wokha who were reportedly caught collecting money, Alam said they have been booked and case registered.
The inspection team led by the deputy commissioner and other officers were regularly inspecting the check gates and giving their reports to the government. He said the move should make a positive impact on the cost of transportation, particularly long distance and decrease in the prices.
On the Geology and Mining department staff, DGP T John Longkumer said the duo has been granted bail on bond. “It is up to the department now how to carry forward as the approval of the department will be required,” he added.
Longkumer informed that out of the six actionable complaints received so far, the first call was about collection of money from vehicles by “undergrounds” (UGs) at Padumpukhuri in Dimapur. An anti-extortion team was said to have been sent for action but could not find any illegal activity and investigation is said to be on.
The second complaint was via email on illegal demand of tax from a poultry shop in Assam, following the matter was passed on to the Assam Police; third was about a car bearing Manipur registration number going missing, and third one was about the Kohima Municipal Council (KMC) collecting tax, which was forwarded to the Additional SP and the KMC advisor informed that the matter would be taken up.
Longkumer went on to say that the Zunheboto Town Council (ZTC) was warned not to continue collecting tax at Lizu Naghuto entry gate, while Longthu police personnel were sent to Longthu at Chungtia in Mokokchung district on receiving call about illegal collection by some unknown miscreants suspected to be UGs but no such activity was detected.
Complaint was also received that apart from royalty and GST, different organisations such as motor vehicle inspection, union and UGs were collecting money at different locations in Chungtia. Subsequently report (at PHQ) was received from the SDPO Mangkolemba that a duty party rushed to the spot but no illegal collection was observed so officers were asked to speak to the village councils to prohibit such actions, it was informed.
There was also report of the Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC) collecting tax at Khatkhati and the information was passed on to ACP (East) but it was found to be permitted by the government. It was informed that they will have to re-apply to open the check gate from June 1.
The police officer said that ILP checking will be done at New Field and Dillai gate as the check gate at Chumoukedima has been closed.
Home Commissioner, Abijit Sinha also stated that if there is any contravention, the police and the department concerned can be contacted for prompt action. He added that the department of Geology and Mining had approached the government for setting up of check gates and few others were also in the process of sending proposals.
He maintained that if any department applies, the government would look the merit and past records.
With regard to possible increase in the crime rates and other illegal activities following the removal of the check gates, Longkumer said it has its own highway patrol system and under the CrPc there can be surprise motor-vehicle checking if there are some specific inputs.
He also requested the public to give reports to the police in the event of theft and other illegal and criminal activities. He also said that an ADG-level officer is supervising the control room helpline.
With regard to delay in payment of salaries, the chief secretary pointed out the difficulty faced by the DDOs is segregating those who have the Personal Information Management System (PIMS) and those without it. He added that many times, ‘the DDOs do not segregate those without PIMS and get stuck’.
“Actually the number of people without PIMS is small compared to the total number,” he said.
‘The government has asked the Finance department to issue fresh instructions that such cases should be segregated and those who are still without PIMS, whatever lacunae there is, they should try to cover it up and they should complete all this registrations by June,’ he said, adding that the E-pay bill system is being relaxed till June salary.
It was informed that 1, 20, 000 employees have proper PIMS while about 6,000 people do not have full details, which is about 5% of the total number of employees.
Meanwhile, the Nagaland DGP informed that the SIT report was sent to the prosecution in Mon about 10 days ago but the file was returned to the Nagaland Police after certain observations were made on some technical legal points -- ‘minor but important’.
“We have done due diligence to it and after proper writing and signing, I am told by my DIG (CID) that today (June 1), it is being sent again to the prosecution office at Mon,” he added.
Later, the DGP also updated about the Nagaland Police’s special drive on narcotics from January to February 2022, during which 219 cases were registered and 244 persons arrested from across the state.
He said the order was later extended for one more month and during the two months special drive, the following achievements were made:
It informed that a total of 219 cases were registered and 244 persons arrested across the state, in all districts during the two-month-long special drive.
| No. of cases registered | No. of persons arrested | Seizures | |
| NDPS | 61 | 76 | Heroin — 2648 gram Brown sugar — 548.97 gram Cannabis (Ganja)- 384 gram WY Tab — 1,00,000 Ice Crystal — 5 kg SP and other synthetic Drugs —43,734 Cough Syrup — 532 bottles Opium - 15 kg |
| NLTP | 140 | 135 | IMFL — 63,006 bottles |
| Arms Act | 18 | 33 | Arms — 20 Ammunition — 163 |