Dimapur, June 24 (MExN): Acting on the Home department’s directive, the Dimapur administration today issued an order stipulating a number of clauses and checks, including closing down check-gates of the Excise and Transport department and banning “taxes” by students’ organizations. The order also said the prosecution “needs to be strengthened” and ensure that arrested extortionists and illegal collectors are not released.
The order issued through Deputy Commissioner Maongwati Aier directed closing down the two separate check-posts maintained by the Excise Taxes and the Transport departments. If necessary, they are to function from police check gates, the order said.
Also, the Veterinary & Animal Husbandry department is directed to establish quarantine posts at entry posts of the state. The “present system is not serving the purpose,” the government said. Taxation or illegal collection activities by students’ organizations are banned and the law-enforcing agencies in concern are ordered to tackle the illegal activities.
Likewise, the general administration assured to take steps to stop the practice of illegal taxation or ‘commissions’ from traders of New Market in Dimapur and other such markets in the city. Criminal suits will be registered against “those indulging in these practices,” the order stated. The order also said that the prosecution “needs to be strengthened” and ensure that offenders committing extortion and illegal taxation are not released.
The administration has further ordered that police check gates are now to be manned by state police personnel, the Assam Rifles and the CRPF on rotation. The names of the personnel on duty are ordered to be listed and indicated at the post.
The district administration is to monitor and undertake periodic checking. Departments in concern are to immediately suspend defaulting staffers, on receiving report from the DC, and start inquiry proceedings against the erring individuals.
Excise and Police under arrest cloud
Interestingly, even as the government has started issuing myriad orders against extortion and illegal taxation, the Excise and police personnel at New Field Gate in Dimapur have been named for committing the crime as recent as June 23. The administration has directed the Dimapur police to arrest the offenders and prosecute them ‘immediately’.
In a separate order, the Dimapur administration took strong note of ‘some government staffers’ said to be illegally collecting money in spite of recent orders from the deputy commissioner’s office, banning illegal “taxes” from commercial vehicles. The DC stated that specific information have been received about “government departmental staff” manning various check gates, to be still collecting money.
This is flagrant violation and willful disobedience of the order, the DC stated. The order mentioned personnel of the police and Excise at New field check-gate as committing the offense on June 23 between 5 pm to 6 pm.
The Superintendent of Dimapur police and the law enforcing agencies in concern are directed to arrest and prosecute the erring government servants. “This matter must be dealt with immediately so as to avoid breach of the public’s peace and tranquility,” the deputy commissioner’s order stated.
