But police says reduced crime incidence this year
Morung Express News
Dimapur | October 23
After lying low briefly during the initial phase of the COVID-19 lockdown, illegal monetary collection, also known as extortion, is back in business in Dimapur.
Data released by the Dimapur police to the media on October 23 stated that 78 cases of extortion have been registered in the district since January till date. As many as 127 persons were also arrested in connection to the 78 cases, besides the confiscation of arms and recovery of over Rs 1.6cr in extorted cash.
The Commissioner of Police, while making the disclosure, added that 60 of the 127 persons arrested were cadres of Naga Political Groups (NPGs).
The most recent arrests occurred during the week when 2 persons were apprehended in two separate incidents by the police. On October 19, the CP said that one Hanso Quinker was arrested from 4th Mile “while extorting in the name of the NSCN K-Khango.” Rs 4400 in cash and “work permit” allegedly issued by the NPG were seized from his possession.
It was followed by the arrest of another, identified as Hevikhu Achumi, a ‘Khapur’ in the GPRN/NSCN, was arrested from the Burma Camp area on October 20. “Work Permit” (7 in number) and a copy of “Non Local ID Card” purportedly issued by the NPG were seized from his possession.
While not specifically stated by the CP, most of the extortion cases were believed to have occurred after the relaxation of the COVID-19 lockdown and subsequent resumption of trade and commerce.
The Morung Express, in April this year, based on crime data released by the Dimapur police, reported that the crime rate in Dimapur dropped by around 90 percent during the first lockdown. The district reported only 19 cases during the period March 23-April 24, 2020. For comparison, the district had reported a total of 93 cases during the same period in 2019.
Only 1 case of extortion was reported during the initial lockdown period, as opposed to 15 extortion cases registered during the same period in 2019. There were 8 reported cases in the 3-week period in March before the state went into lockdown. In February and January, there were 12 and 13 reported cases, respectively.
The ADCP (Crime) added that correlation between reduced crime in Dimapur this year and the COVID-19 restrictions have been observed.
The tally of persons arrested in the September 22 killing of trucker Jiten Gogoi in Dimapur remained at 3.
The district police have also registered 97 offences related to narcotics and illicit liquor since January. The most recent was a liquor catch of 200 IMFL bottles from three individuals identified as Vishal Thapa, Mohit Kumar Singh and Akato Chophi. One other person, identified as Ranodhir Ghosh was arrested in possession of 6 kg of ganja by the Dimapur Government Railway Police Station personnel.
In other developments, the CP informed that the police responded swiftly to the complaint regarding the forced closure of East India Transport Agency on October 19 in Dimapur. He said that the transport agency was opened by the police as soon as they got the information.
Liquor bottling plant
A total of 4 persons have been arrested in connection to the discovery of a liquor bottling plant at 7th Mile by the Assam Rifles on September 2. Their identities were not disclosed but the CP said that the police are on the lookout for a fifth suspect, who is said to be abroad.
The suspect in concern is said to be the one, who rented the land on which the illicit liquor bottling plant was found. “We have served summons. If he doesn’t respond, we’ll have to alert the Interpol,” the CP said.
Preliminary investigation pointed to the equipments, found at the site, to have been procured under the guise of a purportedly legitimate business purpose.
