Noel Manuel
Dimapur | February 24
Taking cognizance to Friday’s physical assault on R.C Sarmah, the Assistant Divisional Engineer (ADEN) by a member of the Dimapur Municipal Council, the Divisional Railway Manager today said that the issue was not of taxes but an attempt to support the illegal encroachers in the area.
According to a local daily, DMC member Ghoikhu Assumi alias G. Kits assaulted R.C Sarmah, the Assistant Divisional Engineer (ADEN) alleging that the ADEN had allotted parking tax collection permit to some other party instead of the DMC.
According to DRM, who was on a visit to Dimapur on Saturday to take stock of the development, the ADEN is in no way connected with tax collection or allotment. His job instead is to look into development and construction activities.
The railway chief also made particular reference to the tax issue and said that the railways were free to do whatever they deemed fit within the boundaries for the interest of the common man and taxes collected on railway land will go to the railway authorities and those taxes collected on municipal land should go to the municipal authorities.
Manhandling or assaulting officers causes demoralization among railway staff on duty and the people should realize that encroachers need to move out so that facilities can be created for the common man, the DRM said.
Joining the chorus, RJD president Nagaland State Unit Khetovi Kinny and Kakheho Yepthomi alias Dennis president of Nagaland Railway Contractors’ Union (NRCU) condemned the attack on the ADEN by the DMC member.
Kinny, in a statement to the press appealed to the Chief Minister, Governor and Chief Secretary to take immediate action against those seeking high court stay orders against forceful encroachment thereby stalling developmental activities in and around the Dimapur Railway Station area.
Dennis was also vocal in condemning the incident and said that issues could be settled through dialogue or discussions.
It is pertinent to note that ADC (J) had earlier in his judgment in December 2006 declared the eviction of a few encroachers. However, till date, the railways have not been able to carry out the same because of some pretext or the other by the district administration.
The railway authorities however are busy in setting an example by demolishing their own quarters in the railway circulating area and relocating their staff to other locations in order to send out a strong message that they are serious about development. Its time the people started listening.
Morung Express News
