DDTDWTU alleges ‘collection’ by govt. agencies

Two days after it expressed willingness to publish “taxation/extortion” by the law enforcing agencies from truck drivers at various check gates, the Dimapur District Trucks Drivers Welfare Trade Union (DDTDWTU) on Wednesday issued a statement listing out “some of the illicit and illegal activities” especially collection of illegal tax collection allegedly by the law enforcing agencies at various check gates. (See table).
In a press release, DDTDWTU vice president Atovi Swu and general secretary Atobo Zhimo stated that it has brought out the list for the responsible authority to immediately take necessary steps to curb the menace of multiple illegal tax collections by law enforcing agencies.
According to DDTDWTU, law enforcing agencies instead of providing protection from illegal collection were taking truckers on multiple locations.
Stating that such acts needed to be stopped immediately, the union demanded that the erring law enforcing personnel be arrested and necessary disciplinary action be initiated under relevant provisions of the law.
DDTDWTU alleged that the practice of multiple illegal taxations by the law enforcing agencies has been going on continuously and being perpetrated against the truckers under the watch of the “controlling officers”, who, it asserted were equally liable and answerable.
Meanwhile, the union has condemned the arrest and detention of its president and bona fide members by police without any justification ands in violation of their basic rights.
It said the members were acting under the mandate of the union and for the general welfare of the truck drivers. The union added that the bandh called by the union was in exercise of its democratic rights for peaceful demonstration to show solidarity to its members who were arrested.
Collections at various check gates
1) Chumukediam gate:
i) Forest check gate: Rs.150
ii) Police check gate: Rs. 500 (6-wheeler truck)
iii) Excise check gate: Rs. 700 (10-wheeler truck)
                 Rs.100 (6-wheeler truck)
2) Lalmati police check gate : Rs.500
3) Phesama police check gate : Rs.500
4) Khuzama police check gate : Rs. 300 (North Police)
Khuzama police check gate : Rs.500 (6-wheeler truck)
Khuzama police check gate: Rs.700 (10-wheeler truck)
Khuzama police check gate: Rs.200 (excise)
5) Golaghat road check gate
   i) Police Rs. 100 (6-wheeler truck)
  ii) Police Rs. 500 (10-wheeler truck)
  iii) Excise Rs.50 (6-wheeler truck)
  iv) Excise Rs. 100 (10-wheeler truck)
6) Dillai gate:
   Police Rs. 100 (6-wheeler truck)
   Police Rs. 500 (10-wheeler truck)
Trucks to stop plying
DDTDWTU has informed that the members of the union have at an extraordinary emergency meeting unanimously resolved to stop all movement of trucks of its members with effect from October 8 until the responsible authority take immediate necessary steps to stop all forms of multiple illegal tax collections from the listed check gates.
The union has requested the general public to cooperate and bear with the inconveniences.