DIMAPUR: Nagaland chief secretary J Alam on Wednesday said out of 34 check gates in the state, 21 have been closed and only 13 inter-state ones are operating at the moment.
Alam, along with Nagaland DGP T John Longkumer and home commissioner Abhijit Sinha held a press conference in Kohima to give an overview on the issue of closing the check gates across the state.
On May 19, the Nagaland government ordered immediate closure of all police and other check gates, except the existing inter-state ones, to combat illegal collection of money from the vehicles at the check gates and other locations in the state.
The state government said though it had issued several directives in the past to curb the illegal collection of money from the vehicles, reports continue to be received about the menace on roads and at various check gates by organisations, groups, government agencies, private individuals and so on.
Alam said the DCs of all the districts and other officials have gone to various check gates to oversee the closure. He also said two phone numbers are operating 24x7 with abled and dedicated officers to help in checking illegal collection of money. He made an ardent appeal to the public to give information about any illegal taxation or collection.
Longkumer said the order for closure of check gates was enforced from May 20, a day after the notification was issued. He said so far eight complaints were received and six complaints were found to be actionable. He added that six FIRs were lodged in different police stations and investigations are ongoing. He appealed to the people to cooperate with the security forces and inform the police at the earliest about any illegal activity.
Meanwhile, four Dimapur-based organisations have appealed to the authority concerned to partially reconsider the blanket ban on the tax levied by the Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC).
At a meeting on May 30, the Dimapur Urban Chairmen Council Federation, GB Union Dimapur (Sardar), Dimapur Naga Students' Union and Naga Women Hoho Dimapur deliberated on certain directives issued in the May 19 government notification, which could potentially cause inconvenience and confusion to the resident of Dimapur urban areas in view of the blanket ban on utility fees levied by the DMC.
