In response to police department contemplating seeking reestablishment of check gates in the state, the Nagaland Voluntary Consumers’ Organisation (NVCO) Tuesday brought to the notice of responsible authority that government departments such as police, forest etc. and several NGOs were still continuing with illegal collection of cash in check gates viz. Chumukedima, Kiruphema, pay-counters maintained by municipalities and various public bodies.
Stating to substantiate its claim, the Nagaland Voluntary Consumers’ Organisation president Kezhokhoto Savi, in a release, stated on September 1, while carrying building materials from Dimapur to Kohima two to three young men demanded Rs.500 per truck for buying local sand.
However, the NVCO said buyer somehow managed to negotiate the amount to Rs.200, following which a receipt of “government of the people’s republic of Nagaland, ministry of chaplee” was issued to the buyer with a seal, which read “office of general accounts officer”.
The NVCO pointed out that the amount written on the receipt was Rs.2 but Rs.500 was demanded.
Further, citing an incident at Chumukedima check-gate, the NVCO said the police forcibly collected Rs.50 stating they never issued receipt, the forest department collected Rs.50 without receipt and Chumukedima town council (CTC) charged Rs.100 with receipt in the name of “transit pass.”
Earlier, the Nagaland Voluntary Consumers’ Organisation said CTC charged Rs.50 then increased to Rs.80 and presently collected Rs.100 per vehicle after lifti8ng other check gates. It stated that Medziphema town council (MTC) was also continuing with collection of cash on highways, adding MTC “even collects Rs.10 per empty truck.”
The NVCO t another Rs.50 was forcibly collected by police at the lifted check-gate, Kiruphema, and Rs.50 by Kohima municipal council as toll tax.
Highlighting the above instances, the NVCO question the police department as to why it was contemplating seeking reestablishment of check-gates at this stage rather than correcting their own personnel from their “nefarious conduct”.
Moreover, the Nagaland Voluntary Consumers’ Organisation said it was the right best time to find out the mechanism to eradicate the menace of illegal collection of cash on highways and in check-gates.
The organisation said the police department must realize that police were to be blamed “as the starter of this menace.”
Stating that public could no longer tolerate the menace, the NVCO termed it as “a serous harassment and a serious illegal conduct.”
Further, it appealed to the district administrations to be more serious towards eradication of the menace as it was affecting every citizen.
It also pointed out that many village authorities have introduced several illegal cash collection in the name of village tax such as charging upon transportation of materials.
It urged the government to issue necessary direction to all district administration to take up timely action in removing existing pay-counters on highways.
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