The economy of the state of Nagaland may not exactly be termed as “vibrant” but the factors that determine and influence it definitely are.In the past week, the tabling of the findings of the Action Committee Against Unabated Tax has lifted the veil on a practice that has gone undebated for decades. It goes without saying that the “open secret” was one that affected every family in the state, who for fear of reprisal has been suffering in silence. Add to this the mushrooming growth of bootlegging in a state where the Liquor Prohibition Act, over two decades ago has only benefited the unscrupulous. The ban has also meant a proliferation of spurious liquor proving to be a dangerous health issue for the insatiable tipplers.
Still, away from the public eye are developments which are equally disconcerting .The state’s police website information on the seizures of illegal weapons and ammunition shows a sharp increase across the state, raising questions of the citizen’s security.
Where are these weapons coming from? Who is using them and how are they procuring them? For eg : In 2010 the total number of illegal arms seized was 130 and this figure went up to 305 in 2012.In the corresponding period the number of illegal ammunition recovered went up from 2341 in 2010 to 39,149, in 2012.
This dramatic rise is explained away as the recovery of the “siphoned” arms and ammunition meant for the Nagaland Armed Police, from anti social elements. The origin of the act taking place with none other than the one entrusted with the responsibility of its safe keeping. No doubt, the Police Department have taken a wake up call on this but the lapse exposes much more than just a departmental failure. That such defying acts can be committed by a man in uniform, within the confines of the law keeping agency is much indeed too much food for thought.
The factors driving the economy in the state may leave a lot of room for wanting more but so are the priorities
