Dimapur, May 25 (MExN): The government on Monday swung into action responding to the charter of demands placed before the Home Minister by the Dimapur Public Coordination Committee. The Committee, which held a meeting with Home Minister Imkong Imchen on Sunday, May 24 last, had submitted a memorandum seeking immediate measures to curb increasing criminal activities in Dimapur district. The demands which included setting up a public coordination committee, increased police mobile squad, extensive foot patrolling and amendment of rape laws, etc., were subject to scrutiny at a high level meeting of Naga civil societies, nongovernmental organisations, police and the district administration, at the Deputy Commissioner’s conference hall today.
After a brainstorming interactive session and review meeting, the participating bodies, in the presence of the Home Minister and the Home Commissioner of Nagaland, proposed to constitute a ‘Ward Vigilance Committee’. Sensing the need to tackle crime at the grassroots level, it was agreed that the committee will comprise of DMC members, ward chairman along with prominent members from the ward/village councils/colony and representation from the district administration and police. The authorised committee would be empowered to arrest and apprehend any offenders in their respective wards to be handed over to the competent authority for necessary action. Competent persons will be appointed by the respective ward committees and the list will be submitted to the Deputy Commissioner’s office. Also announcing some motivational incentive, the government said that the best performing committee would be rewarded.
Taking strict note of rampant illegal taxing, the meeting affirmed to book any person caught collecting taxes under the National Security Act (NSA) besides other relevant sections of law and charge them as a ‘criminal extortionist’. Deliberating on the actions of the Naga underground groups who recruit habitual offenders as cadres, the meeting further urged the groups not to protect any offenders by taking these criminals as their cadres but to hand them over to the civil authorities.
Meanwhile, during the meeting the Home Minister also took serious note of taxation in Dimapur. He steered clear of putting the blame solely on underground groups but pointed out that several miscreants among the public were also inclined to such crimes. Imchen also took note of ministers and MLAs issuing authorisation notes for tax collection from the public. He reminded such leaders that they were not competent to authorise such taxation. With the volatile law and order situation prevailing in Dimapur, Imchen encouraged better communication between the police and public to generate cooperation and build confidence among them.
The Deputy Commissioner of Dimapur, Maongwati Aier, reasserting the administration’s commitment to fighting crime, said that every step is being taken to prevent illegal taxation in Dimapur. Several officials of government departments like the forest, excise and motor vehicle inspectors have been barred from collecting unauthorised taxes, the DC informed. He also said that inter-state vigilance is increased. And much to the relief of the business community who are prime targets of criminals, the DC informed that the government has sanctioned 379 village guards for Dimapur district who will be deployed at the borders to check cross-border crimes.
