Economic strangulation

 It’s time that society, the district authorities of Dimapur and the state government take stock of the recurrence of ‘economic bandh’ imposed on Dimapur by various associations. These bandhs may be an extreme step compelled by situations or circumstances under the plea of seeking justice but such a step is certainly not conducive for creating the climate of progress. Bandhs invite huge losses in terms of trade and also make people suffer. The current 3-day bandh called by five transport associations-Dimapur District Truck Owners’ Association, Dimapur Truck Drivers’ Union, Dimapur District Truck Drivers’ Welfare Trade Union, Lahorijan & Khatkhati Truckers’ Welfare Society and Bokajan Truck Owners’ Association- had the genesis in the shocking incident in the wee hours of September 22 when a driver of a local truck and hailing from Assam, was shot dead by unknown miscreants. The five associations had issued an ultimatum on the district and state government to nab those involved; ensure safety and security of truck drivers entering Dimapur from syndicates controlled by various elements and also rid Dimapur of the menace of unabated collections of every form. These demands may seem ordinary given the fact that the district authorities and the state government are supposed to be ensuring rule of law . However, for whatever reasons, the situation hasn’t changed during the decade despite huge public outrage against such activities that spilled over into rallies across the state. Thus, the demand of the truck associations is justified but the ‘indefinite economic bandh’ imposed on Dimapur poses a serious challenge on the people of the state and a slap on the face of the constitutionally mandated government. It also appears that the state government has left the district authorities on their own, to tackle the crisis. When such a serious issue as ‘economic bandh’ was threatened and which will certainly affect the state, the government ought to have responded immediately in order to avert the impending bandh. The complaint made by the truckers is neither rare nor new but a regular feature that has plagued the progress and development of Dimapur and the state. It is about illegal and multiple taxations imposed at inter-state check gates at Dimapur and many unauthorised and illegal toll gates or toll collection centres across the length and breadth of Dimapur. These activities are in addition to imposition of “personal/income tax, goods tax, shop tax, royalty tax” etc. Even as recently as September 13, two truck owners associations of Karbi Anglong- Lahorijan and Khatkhati Truck Owners Welfare Society Assam and Bokajan Truck Owners Association Assam- had threatened to stop allowing their trucks to ply to Dimapur and beyond unless trucks are provided with security escort till their destinations, by the district administration and state government. It may be pointed out that in 2019, the Gauhati High Court had explicitly and elegantly held, that road and rail blockades are variants of bandh, and thus illegal and unconstitutional. It said those involved should be prosecuted under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, National Highways Act, 1956 and the Railways Act, 1989. Conversely, the moot question is, what about those in authority who are responsible for dereliction of responsibility in preventing or averting economic bandhs?