Close to two weeks after the state government ordered removal of all police check gates, barring the interstate check gates, the state chief secretary J Alam Wednesday said the government has so far received eight complaints on illegal taxation and investigation has been initiated. Out of the eight complaints, he said two complaints were found to be “in-actionable” while six cases were under investigation.
Addressing a press conference along with principal secretary home Abhijit Sinha and DGP Nagaland TJ Longkumer, at the Civil Secretariat here on Wednesday, the chief secretary J. Alam said out of the 34 check gates, 21 were closed and 13 inter-state check gates were operating.
The press conference was held to give an overview of post-closing of check gates in the state.
Alam informed that a 24×7 control room has been set up at PHQ while two mobile numbers were provided to the citizens and the complaints were received through those numbers and emails. Alam stated that there were positive changes following the removal of the check gates, he expressed hope that it would have a positive impact in controlling the market prices especially for the far-flung areas.
The chief secretary has appealed to the citizens to make use of the facility and share information so action could be initiated against unauthorized people collecting illegal taxation. He said that the state government was committed to good governance, adding that the initiative was in line with the commitment for good governance.
DGP T John Longkumer said the six “actionable cases” included illegal taxation from vehicles and poultry in Dimapur and Assam and Chungtia. On receiving the information, DGP said patrolling team swung into action and, though nothing could be seen on the spot, investigations had been initiated.
Further, DGP said the police also received a complaint about Kohima Municipal Council collecting tax from wholesalers. After the additional SP was informed about the matter, the KMC advisor was asked to take up the matter.
Similar cases were also reported in Zunheboto district where Zunheboto Town Council allegedly collected entry gate taxes. Accordingly, he said the district and police administration were informed and ZTC was asked to discontinue the collection.
On the appeal of various organizations under Dimapur district to relax some taxes under DMC, the chief secretary said that consultation was held with the department and the accordingly department was asked to work out alternative ways to collect revenue, adding the exercise was on.
Principal secretary home Abhijit Sinha informed that some departments were working out a proposal to set up a check gate. He said that the government, if found necessary, could take up the matter.
On delay in disbursement of salary to the government employees, Alam said that trainings were conducted to DDOs and DDOs and asked to segregate the employees with Personal Information Management System (PIMS) and without PIMS. However, he said that instead of segregating, the entire bill was getting stuck since some have PIMS and some did not have.
The chief secretary said that the finance department was, therefore, asked to issue fresh instructions to segregate such cases and cover whatever lacunae was found and complete the registration by June 2022. Alam informed that the e-pay system was relaxed to disburse salary.
Oting SIT report sent to prosecution office: DG
Responding to a query on the Special Investigation Team (SIT) into the December 4, 2021 Oting killings, DGP TJ Longkumer, informed that the SIT report was sent to the prosecution office Mon about 10 days back. However, he said that after certain observation were made, some technical/legal points, though minor, was found incomplete and the file returned to PHQ.
Therefore, DGP said that after taking care of the matter diligently, the file was sent to Mon again on June 1, 2022.
It may be mentioned that the Indian Army last month said that the force has completed the Court of Inquiry into the Oting firing incident in Mon district.
Following the massacre of 13 civilians by 21 Paras on December 4, 2021, the state government formed an SIT to probe the incident on December 5, 2021 while the Indian under the 3 Corps ordered its Court of Inquiry (CoI) headed by a Major General to inquire into the incident.