Mokokchung traders flag NSCN (IM) over banning of tobacco products

DIMAPUR — The Mokokchung Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) has taken exception to the NSCN (IM)’s alleged move to ban sale of tobacco products and penalisation of traders selling such items.

In a press release, the business community stated that the CAO (Central Administrative Officer) of Ao Region, NSCN (IM), had issued a notification via a local vernacular newspaper on November 9, prohibiting the sale of “Tez, Talab, Sunflower, Rum, etc.”, dubbing them as “contraband” items.

“It has been brought to the notice of the MCCI that the NSCN-IM authority in Mokokchung has been seizing these tobacco items and ‘penalizing’ some traders for trading in tobacco products,” read the press release.

Clarifying that tobacco products, including Tez and Talab, are not contraband items, the MCCI said it would “not tolerate such highhandedness by anybody when genuine traders dealing in legitimate businesses are victimized”.

“There are laid down rules to regulate the manufacture and sale of tobacco products, specifically the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003 (COTPA, 2003), and competent authorities to enforce them,” it said.

The MCCI went on to say that it had learned about the NSCN (IM) in Mokokchung as well as some Police personnel “harassing and extorting traders and transporters from other districts of Nagaland passing through Mokokchung”. “This must be stopped immediately in the interest of maintaining peace and public order,” it added.

Also read: Article 371 (A) roadblock to Framework Agreement — NSCN (IM)