Taking note of prevailing rampant extortion and forcible collections of money by various Naga underground groups, security forces are reportedly stepping up efforts with various mechanisms to check the menace. “The state government is seriously concerned on the prevailing trend of rampant extortion and forceful collection everywhere in the state and in particular Kohima and Dimapur,” home minister Imkong L. Imchen said while addressing a press conference in his office chamber here Friday.
He also expressed hope that Naga people would appreciate the action taken by the Assam Rifles and Nagaland Police while pursuing extortion. Imchen said as per the ceasefire ground rules under clause -IM & K, both the groups agreed that they would not go for forceful collection/extortion, adding, however, both the groups were forcibly collecting money from the public and even from the state government officials. He said it was a total violation committed by both the factions of their own accord.
Imchen stated that the underground organizations sometimes collected officially, but besides that, he alleged every individual or cadre were extorting money in the name of their organization. He said although the Assam Rifles and the Nagaland Police were doing their best to prevent and arrest those perpetrators, the menace still continues. The minister stated that they were against use of force and violence, and stood for peaceful atmosphere in the state so that every citizen would feel a sense of security. He however admitted that though peaceful atmosphere was prevailing in the state, the minds of the people were not happy because of the forcible collections of money and extortions.
On the measure taken by the state government to check and prevent collections and extortion from the government servants, the home minister said various measures including clear instruction to all the departments as and when they received demand or extortion note, to immediately inform the respective deputy commissioner and superintendent of police.
However, there is hardly any response and only few cases have been reported so far, Imchen said while adding people still got extorted even though the state government has started disbursing salary through bank account.
He maintained that leaders of all groups should exercise restrain with their own cadres. He also reminded that one could not take lightly the “more than 60 years of Naga struggle” as they have well armed. Besides, he stated underground cadres were “Naga brothers and sisters” and that the state police can only arrest them and put them behind bars.
Reacting to the Dimapur incident where extortionists were released a day after their arrest by police, Imchen said it was “very, very painful and frustrating” as the police had put much effort to arrest the culprits. The home minister revealed that he sought for the status report and found that the court had released the extortionists even before police could submit the charge sheet. “Unless we appeal, we’ve to comply the court order but by the time we appeal, the accused are walking free,” he said. On the increasing cases of rape in the state, Imchen said, “I don’t know what is going on with our people”.
Rape and murder are the highest degree of crime and it is not committed in Naga traditional system, he said and appealed the intellectual community, particularly academicians to conduct thorough psychological study whether something was “seriously going wrong” and find remedy.
No more police escort to UG leaders
The state government has decided to withdraw police escorts to any Naga underground leader unless specifically directed by MHA.
The decision was taken Friday at a high level official meeting where it was decided that henceforth, the Nagaland Police will not provide security escorts to Naga underground leaders unless the state government is specifically directed by government of India with specific purpose, location and occasion. Imchen who convened the high level meeting at his office chamber, Friday informed the media after the meeting. So far, the state police have been providing security escorts to Naga underground leaders on the requisition from the chairman, CFMG but henceforth we’ll stop it, Imchen said. He further revealed that it had decided to invite the chairman, CFMG from time to time so that no miscommunication crop up.
The meeting was attended by addl. CS & devp. commissioner Alemtemshi Jamir, additional chief secretary & commissioner Nagaland Banuo Z Jamir, DGP Nagaland K Kire along with two ADGP, Home commissioner J Alam, special secretary Home and G. Rengma SO to the chairman, CFMG.
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