Volunteers at gates will check illegal collections— PAC

Dimapur, Sep. 14 (EMN): The Public Action Committee (pac) under Naga Council Dimapur has asserted that its proposed plan to deploy volunteers at check-gates from September 16 onwards was solely to check illegal collection, and not directed against the government or any Naga groups.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the committee asserted that its volunteers will not check vehicles but only will ensure that no illegal money is collected by any state or non-state actors at the check-gates.

It requested the Commissioner of Police Dimapur, to “enforce the entry of commercial vehicles from 5 am-7 am and 7 pm to 10 pm strictly.”

According to the committee, it held a meeting with tribe hohos in Dimapur on Saturday and resolved to enforce the ‘action-plan’ (to deploy volunteers) from September 16 “till further decision.”

“PAC core committee also deliberated on the modus operandi of illegal money collection from transporters and seriously noted that if any consequences befall on transport owners, drivers etc., PAC will construe such acts as anti-Naga,” it stated, and also sought support from the citizens.

Unauthorised collections will be sternly dealt with — Govt.

In a late night statement, the chief secretary maintained that the government has not authorised any collections except by those departments tasked with collecting fees/royalty—the rates of which are approved and fixed.

“It is hereby brought to the notice of all concerned and departments that the revenue collected should be as prescribed by the government. Any department which has not been authorised to collect fees/royalty are not to make any collection and the departments which are empowered to collect taxes such as forest royalty etc., should levy the same as fixed by the government.

“Further, any person/department found violating the same will be sternly dealt with as per the provisions of law. Any violation may be brought to the notice of the government for taking appropriate action,” read the statement.