Naga Council Dimapur (NCD), Dimapur District Citizens’ Forum (DDCF) and Dimapur Naga Students’ Union (DNSU) and Khonoma Rüffüno, Dimapur (KRD) have vehemently condemned the alleged abduction of a truck driver by two unidentified miscreants at Reliance Smart Point, Burma Camp, Dimapur in the wee hours of July 31, 2023.
In a press release, NCD president Etsungmomo Kikon and vice president Holuto Aye reminded that all the civil society organisations (CSOs), both Nagas and Non-Nagas, based in Dimapur, including GBs Union (GB Dimapur Sadar), on November 30, 2022, under the aegis of NCD resolved to maintain Dimapur city/district as a peace zone.
Therefore, NCD has appealed to all Dimapur-based CSOs to remain vigilant against such anti-social activities. It urged the CSOs to extend cooperation to law enforcing agencies to arrest the perpetrators at the earliest and put them behind bars.
Further, NCD has appealed to leaders of Naga political groups to refrain and contain their cadres “from going out of the rules and regulations of the group.”
NCD stated that there could be “notorious civilians” impersonating as NPG cadres to kidnap someone for ransom, collect tax/demand money from the public. NCD said that such notorious civilians/individuals if found guilty should be dealt with stringently as per the law.
NCD affirmed that such menace of anti-social activities had been discouraging the interest of Naga young entrepreneurs to a great extent in Nagaland particularly in Dimapur.
It said there were local and non-local entrepreneurs, who honestly want to invest for opening business avenues for youths. However, NCD said multiple taxations and abducting businessmen for ransom were the factors blocking them from doing lucrative jobs for their survival.
DDCF: Vehemently condemning the incident, Dimapur District Citizens’ Forum (DDCF) through its media cell stated that a delivery truck driver on duty for Reliance Smart Point at Burma Camp, Dimapur was abducted by some unidentified miscreants.
According to DDCF, the driver was later released after they took the phone numbers of the driver and the in-charge of the Reliance store and seized the key.
Stating that such incidents should be condemned by all the right-thinking citizens, the forum reminded that when any new businesses were set up, new job opportunities were created and many unemployed youths get the opportunity to apply and secure a job. However, DDCF described as “very disheartening and discouraging for the businesses” that such kind of unwanted elements in the society disturbed a business before it even starts functioning.
It maintained that any misunderstanding could be settled through dialogue directly with the business owner without disturbing the employees, labourers or drivers.
The forum has, therefore, appealed to all responsible citizens to condemn and report such kind of incidents to the nearest police station. DDCF also appealed to the responsible department to keep a check on such kind of incidents and also bring the culprits to book as per the law without any bias.
DNSU: Dimapur Naga Students’ Union (DNSU) through its president Moayanger Jamir and general secretary Sedelo T Vadeo expressed deep concern and anguish over the abduction of a truck driver by “some self-styled individuals” allegedly “so-called National Workers” while delivering goods of the newly opened Reliance Smart Point store at Burma Camp, Dimapur.
DNSU stated that “such menaces” in the name of “freedom fighters” was a threat to the progress of the society.
Drawing the attention of the law enforcing agencies and the people responsible for such incidents, DNSU stated that the “young unemployed youths in disgrace and resentment” were ready to counter if those issues were overlooked. The union said it was aware that companies or private sector business establishments from outside of Nagaland were reluctant and unwilling to do import-export or establish businesses in the State with such kidnapping and extortion practices and threats.
Taking serious note of the incident, the DNSU has urged the law enforcing agencies to not leave any stone unturned and bring the culprit to book in order to avoid such incidents in the future.
KRD: Khonoma Rüffüno, Dimapur (KRD) through its president Zakievilhou Zinyü strongly condemned the “cowardly act of some miscreants” who abducted the driver of a goods truck.
KRD said that the act was perpetrated by “self-styled ‘National Workers’ with the intention to extort money.”
KRD reminded that the ongoing works of the Reliance Smart Point was part of the Start-Up India, whereby, the Naga entrepreneurs were getting an opportunity to set up enterprises for their livelihood. It stated that such actions of abduction create immense hurdles not only for companies investing in the state but also for local entrepreneurs.
KRD has, therefore, urged the police and other security agencies to bring the perpetrators of such cowardly acts to justice, thereby reassuring safety and security to all citizens.