Dimapur, October 30 (MExN): The Confederation of Nagaland Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CNCCI) on Friday strongly condemned the abduction of a businessman, Altaf Hussain, who was abducted by unidentified persons from New Market in Dimapur on October 28.
Demanded his immediate and safe release, the CNCCI in a release said the incident was “yet another disturbing reminder of the growing insecurity faced by the business community in Nagaland” and expressed solidarity with the victim and his family.
The chamber raised serious questions about the functioning of law enforcement agencies, noting that CCTV footage reportedly showed the abduction taking place in broad daylight in the narrow and busy lanes of New Market without any prevention. It said such incidents raise serious concerns about public safety and the effectiveness of the law enforcement machinery.
The CNCCI demanded that the agencies act swiftly and transparently, arrest and identify all those involved, and inform the public about the progress of the investigation and the action taken, asserting that there can be no justification for allowing perpetrators of such serious crimes to remain at large.
Reiterating that all grievances and disputes must be addressed through established legal and institutional mechanisms, the CNCCI said taking the law into one's own hands through abduction, intimidation, extortion or other criminal acts is unacceptable and cannot be tolerated under any circumstances, and that no individual or organisation is above the law.
The chamber also reminded the NPG group involved that the Naga national movement is a “sacred and historic struggle” borne out of the blood, tears, sacrifices, prayers and immense suffering of the Naga people, and said such a movement cannot and must not be used as a justification for kidnapping, extortion, intimidation or victimisation of innocent citizens, particularly members of the business community.
Stating that abduction and extortion cannot be considered acts of Naga nationalism, the CNCCI said such criminal activities are “anti-Naga and anti-people,” bringing disrepute to a movement founded on noble ideals and the sacrifices of forefathers based on 'Nagaland for Christ'. It demanded that the NPG focus all its efforts, energy and resources on the Indo-Naga solution rather than matters with no connection to the Naga national cause.
The CNCCI appealed to the New Market Business Owners' Association, DCCI, community leaders and the public to extend full cooperation to investigating authorities by providing any relevant information to help identify and apprehend the perpetrators, saying the entire business community of Nagaland stands behind them.
Asserting that the safety, security and dignity of every citizen must be protected, the chamber called upon law enforcement agencies to act without further delay and ensure the victim's safe return unconditionally, adding that the business community cannot be expected to function in an atmosphere of fear, lawlessness and insecurity and that the rule of law must prevail without exception.
