A Shyerhunlo Lorin
Concerned Citizen
Nagaland is reaching a point where we can no longer ignore what is happening around us. What people once spoke about quietly is now out in the open extortion at gunpoint is no longer rare, it is becoming a normal part of life.
Across the state, from Dimapur to the interior districts, traders, government employees, contractors, and even ordinary citizens are being forced to pay illegal “taxes.” These demands are backed by threats, intimidation, and sometimes even violence. Incidents like kidnapping or harassment are no longer shocking, they are becoming routine. And that should deeply concern every one of us.
Let’s be honest about one thing, this is not “taxation” or any kind of justified cause. Forcing someone to hand over money at gunpoint is a crime, nothing else. No matter how it is explained or defended, it cannot be accepted.
A society cannot move forward when people live in fear. Businesses cannot grow when they are constantly under pressure. And a government cannot claim to be effective if its citizens do not feel safe.
What is even more worrying is the silence. Many victims are too afraid to speak. Witnesses choose to stay quiet. As a society, we often look the other way. This silence is slowly creating a situation where wrongdoers feel stronger, and ordinary people feel helpless.
The impact is already visible. Businesses are losing confidence. Investors are hesitant. Young people who want to start something new are thinking twice. If this continues, we are not just losing money, we are putting our future at risk.
People are now asking serious questions. Why is this still happening so openly? Why is there no strong and visible action? Why do citizens feel like they are left on their own?
Law and order should not exist only in words—it should be something people experience in their daily lives.
It is time to stop staying silent. It is time to stop treating this as something “normal” or discussing it only in WhatsApp groups. Silence is no longer harmless—it is helping the problem grow.
The only way forward is to stand together. Civil society must speak clearly. Business communities must unite. Young people must raise their voices. And authorities must act firmly and fairly.
This is not about politics. It is about our dignity, our safety, and the future of Nagaland.
Fear should never control a society. Nagaland deserves better. The rule of law must be stronger than the rule of fear.
The real question is no longer whether extortion exists.
The real question is—how long will we continue to tolerate it?
