Against the backdrop of reports that the NSCN (IM) was selling calendars published by its MIP to business community “by force,” Dimapur Police on Wednesday enquired the business community in New Market to verify the authenticity of the report. Upon enquiry by West Police Station personnel on one side of New Market, falling under its jurisdiction, the shopkeepers produced NSCN (IM) calendars which they said were handed over to them by some unidentified persons on Monday. After dropping the calendars inside the shops, the shopkeepers said, some unidentified persons later on the same day came and collected Rs. 200 each from the shops. Police were informed that the unidentified persons had collected Rs. 200 each for the calendar from almost all the shops in New Market falling under West Police Station jurisdiction.
Another team of personnel from East Police Station had also enquired from the business community in New Market falling under its jurisdiction. However, police told this reporter that the shopkeepers informed that there was no such sale of calendars.
On the contrary, prior to the arrival of the police, when this reporter asked some of the shops falling under East Police Station jurisdiction, the shop owners exhibited the NSCN (IM) calendars and claimed to have paid Rs. 150 for a calendar.
In some blocks of the New Market, the shopkeepers said they got the calendars but that the amount is yet to be collected. Asked if they would pay for the calendar as and when collection for the same comes around, one shop owner said, “It will depend upon the decision of the New Market Business Owners’ Association,” also admitting that they face “monetary loss” due to this but cannot do anything as “everyone is paying.”
ACAUT statement on page 4
