DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 20 (MExN): The Dimapur Naga Students’ Union (DNSU) has expressed grave concern over reports of illegal practices in the local market, including the tampering of price tags, dubious trade licenses, and fuel adulteration.
In a statement released on Friday, the DNSU voiced concern on how shopkeepers are illegally tampering with the original price tags and randomly fooling the public. Citing a recent incident, the DNSU revealed how school textbooks sold in open markets were found illegally tampered with.
Many goods including school textbooks, clothes accessories, decorations and many items are being sold in the market with tampered price tags and without price tags which has added to the woes of the general public, it stated.
With the approaching festive season, the DNSU stated that multitude of innocent shoppers that rushes to the market will fall prey to those unscrupulous business owners to loot and take advantage of the public if not checked properly.
In this connection, it cautioned those business establishments involved in such fraudulent practices to immediately stop fooling the public and engage in legal and honest business.
In addition to price manipulation, the DNSU also voiced its shock at reports of fuel adulteration, along with the operation of non-local businesses that exploit the exemption of Nagas from income tax to evade government dues. It noted that these businesses use local names to avoid taxes, tarnishing the reputation of the state and its contribution to the national economy. The DNSU called on all citizens to stop supporting such illegal enterprises and to report any suspicious activities.
On tax evasion by non local traders
It also warned the non locals, who are taking advantage of the locals and running their business to immediately stop and run their business genuinely and legally by following the norms of the government and pay taxes honestly to bring all round development to the country and the state.
“The market has been captured by the non locals but evidently evading taxes using the name of the locals has given a bad precedent and impact to the centre that Nagaland doesn’t contribute anything to the economy, leading to a bad reputation and it is high time to avoid such stigma by taking action against such businessmen,” it pointed out.
“Nagaland has become a state not free from corruption but free for corruption,” the DNSU lamented while urging all citizens to remain vigilant and report any cases of forged/tampered price tags to its office or call the DNSU grievances cell number 6009812596/9862675997.
The DNSU office, which is open from 10 am to 4 pm, has vowed to pursue the matter legally against defaulters through the rightful authorities.
