In a startling revelation, a renowned Naga contractor has revealed that he has been asked to pay Rs 2 Crore within 15 days to the “Commander, Mobile V Naga Army”, GPRN/NSCN or else face dire consequences.
Thepfusatuo Rio, CEO of the M/S Hexad Syndicate, interacting with members of his club called Kenei Thekhrie Society last evening at Radiant Hotel, Kohima, disclosed that his machineries were seized and his labourers and supervisors were held against their wishes at an undisclosed location for two days earlier last week by SS Col Kurecho of the NSCN (K).
Earlier last year, he was awarded the contract work of connecting Mimi with Khongha and Salomi to Thanamer villages near Mount Saramati in Kiphire district under PMGSY.
Adding details to the news item “NSCN (K) clarifies; Caution Organisations” which appeared in a section of the local media on April 15, 2013, he told his club members his supervisors Neituolie and Kenei were taken to an unofficial camp of the faction by SS Col Kurecho and were held for two days.
They were released only after they signed an “agreement” wherein they, Neituolie and Kenei “agreed to Mobile V Commander to submit a sum of Rs 2 crores within 15 days, i.e. Mimi to Khongha, & Salomi to Thanamer Road construction 5 percent insist of.” (sic).
“If we failed to do this, we agreed to face any action done by the govt. Against us,” (sic) the agreement, which was signed by Neituolie, Kenei and Mobile V Commander, read.
A copy of the “agreement” was distributed to the members present.
“In the said news item, the Commander of the Mobile V, SS Col Kurecho claimed that he had invited me for negotiation on many occasions, and that I had ‘failed to comply with the request since 2010,’” Thepfusatuo said.
“But how could this be when I was awarded the work only on March 29, 2012,” he asked.
“It has also been claimed that materials used are of inferior quality and that ‘mud’ from Tizu river was being used instead of sand. This is a ridiculous claim since sand from Tizu river is considered superior quality and even houses in the area are built using this same sand. Moreover, the work is being executed under PMGSY, and Government of India has its own mechanism for quality control in the form of National Quality Control Team which conducts regular check from time to time to ensure that the quality is not compromised,” he said.
He said the State to has its own quality control mechanism “without any other authorised parallel or subordinate authority” to check the quality of work.
“It is very unfortunate that aspersions and doubts have been cast on the integrity and sincerity of Government officials,” he said.
“SS Col Kurecho has been sending me messages and calling me several times over the week, but due to my unavailability in the last few weeks I could not meet him personally,” he said adding that he had assured to meet up personally as and when he is free and able to travel.
“In the meantime, I have also been in touch with their organisational leaders in their Headquarters and I have been informed that an “authorisation Ahza” duly signed by the Hon’ble President Mr SS Khaplang himself authorising Mr Langkhu Konyak, Deputy Kilonser for Chaplee (Finance) affairs, GPRN, “to collect all taxes which comes (sic) under the Central list from the following four districts of the so-called Nagaland State,” namely, Mon, Longleng, Tuensang and Kiphire,” he said adding that the authorisation Ahza came into effect on November 26, 2012. (A copy of this authorisation letter was also made available to the members present.)
“The moot question is: How can I deal with, or for that matter, why should I negotiate with Col Kurecho when he is not their organisation’s authorised person to collect taxes?” Thepfusatuo added.
He also expressed dismay that the villagers in the area are living in a state of extreme fear psychosis mainly owing to the isolation of the villages where the rule of law is almost absent.
“The term and condition of agreement signed with the Government under PMGSY guidelines is that I have to not only construct the roads but maintain them for a period of five years. My profit margin will only be around 20 to 30 lakhs. And if I were to pay crores of money to any organisation, how can I expect to complete the work or project? The ultimate losers will be the villagers and the very purpose of bringing development will be defeated if the road is not constructed and maintained,” Thepfusatuo said.
His club members sympathised with him and assured to take up the matter at various levels including approaching the Government and civil societies to settle the matter amicably.
Issued by Sebastian Zumvu,
Media Coordinator,
Kenei Thekhrie Society
