Anta dismisses illegal collector at Chumukedima

Eastern Mirror Desk Dimapur, Jan. 24: The All Nagaland Taxi Association (Anta) Dimapur unit accused one of its members of imposing illegal fines on several taxi drivers at Chumukedima on Thursday. Lately, several complaints from passengers are being circulated in WhatsApp claiming that ‘all taxis were halted and made to pay fines of INR 1000 at Chumukedima for not being registered with Anta.’ The complaints also added that the passengers were harassed. After receiving such complaints, Eastern Mirror visited the taxi booth at the terminal near railway station in Dimapur. On being queried, neither the people in-charge nor the taxi drivers were initially aware of it. They confirmed that ‘the association does not impose such fines on taxi drivers.’ It was later in the evening that the Anta Dimapur unit president, Tohozhe Awomi, told this reporter over the phone that a person named Nungshi Ao, who was a ‘pre-paid booth in-charge’ of Chumukedima, was responsible for the ‘illicit act.’ “We (Anta) will look into the matter, and act immediately. Without any information from the association, he initiated such things on his own.  A stern and befitting action against him tomorrow (Friday),” said Awomi. “This is the first time that we came across such things,” he added. The president also said that the accused would be dismissed from the Anta Dimapur unit. He apologised for the inconveniences caused to drivers and passengers.