With just three days after the All Commercial Vehicle Association (ACVA) Wokha district came into being and supporting the initiative of ACAUT, two extortionists belonging to NSCN (IM) cadre were caught by public at Doyang Tuesday evening around 5 p.m. The irate public reportedly thrashed the two and on being informed, Wokha Police went to the spot and took them into custody.
The two arrested NSCN (I-M) cadre-members were identified as Wonthungo Ngullie, son of Nrusao of Nungying village and Amento Sema, son of Seavi Sema of Akahaiqa village both under Wokha district.
SDPO Wokha Kenesa disclosed, that earlier ACVA members were informed that some extortionists were forcibly collecting money from commercial vehicles plying between Merapani-Wokha road. When the ACVA members went to the spot at Doyang, they caught the two, while two others managed to flee and escape. The duo who were caught were found in possession of one .9 mm revolver with five rounds, extortion notes, tax receipts and command certificate.
The two who were caught were handed over to Wokha police. The two accused who were badly beaten up were given medical aid and locked up inside the cell as safety measure. A case was registered with Wokha Police Station and further investigation was on.
The situation became tense after around one hundred members of ACVA gathered outside the police station and demanded that police hand over the accused to them. However, timely intervention by the district administration, police officers and NGOs diffused the tense situation. ACVA has demanded that the accused be awarded stringent punishment as per the law. President ACVA Y. Pankathung Lotha also informed Nagaland Post that the four cadres of the NSCN (I-M) used a two vehicles while carrying out their extortion activities.
On receiving the information about the extortion on Tuesday, he said public numbering around thirty, who rushed to the spot turned into a mob and severely beat up the extortionists while two others escaped the fury.
Pankathung also disclosed, that the spate of complaints from vehicle owners transporting goods along Merapani-Wokha road had reached its height when drivers were harassed on many occasions. He said money used to be forcibly collected and in some instances, belongings were seized. He said such incidents took place even on Monday. Further, he said ACVA was yet to even convene its meeting on Wednesday on the matter.
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