Truckers protest extortion,refuse to enter Nagaland

The authorities in Nagaland fear a shortage of essential commodities and a consequent rise in prices....

The authorities in Nagaland fear a shortage of essential commodities and a consequent rise in prices with truckers from Assam going on strike to protest against extortion by various rebel groups and illegal taxes. With the transporters refusing to enter the state,hundreds of trucks have been stranded at the inter-state border.

The strike that began on Saturday was called by the All Assam Truck Owners Association along with other associations representing drivers,handymen and labourers.

The Association has alleged that transporters have long been harassed by different organisations collecting taxes,both legal and illegal,while underground outfits including both factions of the NSCN and other Assam-based groups have been extorting huge amount of money from them.

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“There are all kinds of organisations collecting these taxes. Some of them are underground organisations,and some are government departments. Some are self-styled organisations like Biscuit Union and Mobile Network Association, an official of the Truck Owners’ Association said.

The Association also alleged that the police in Nagaland collect money from the truckers. The Dimapur

Municipal Committee also collects a hefty sum

from the truckers as entry fee and parking fee,the Association said.

The Association said trucks carrying different items have to cough amount fixed by various groups as they enter Nagaland through the inter-state gates at Dimapur,Mariani and Amguri. If a truck is carrying iron rods it has to pay Rs 8000 and if it is carrying fish,it has to pay Rs 10,000. A truck-load of onion means Rs 4000,while one with potatoes means Rs 5000.have to be shelled out.

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Lirimo Lotha,Superintendent of Police,Dimapur said not all incidents of extortion and illegal collection of taxes are brought to the notice of the police. We have always taken action against miscreants whenever we get any such reports, he added.

Taking note of the situation,Khekaho Assumi,chairperson of the Dimapur Municipal Committee (DMC) has asked the government,local bodies,NGOs and tribal bodies to rein in the illegal organisations that have been harassing the truckers.

Dimapur Deputy Commissioner,Maongwati Aier has announced the constitution of a special task force to ensure that no trucker is harassed while passing through Dimapur.

It was only last year that an enquiry constituted by the Assam government exposed large-scale collection of illegal taxes at Srirampur and Baxirhat,the two entry-points to the Northeast on the Assam-West Bengal border.