Challenges to progress

A worrisome confirmation was the February 2025 press briefing, when Nagaland Police highlighted significant efforts in the “War against Drugs,” detailing major seizures in Dimapur, including heroin valued at over Rs. 8.31 crore within the first two weeks of January. While these operations demonstrate a commitment to tackling the narcotics trade, the figures also underscore the significant scale of contraband flowing through the city.Beyond the drug trade, Dimapur, long recognized as Nagaland’s primary commercial hub, is navigating a complex set of public safety and economic challenges. Data from the 2024 National Crime Records Bureau confirms that Dimapur leads the state’s 17 districts in most major crime categories, including theft, narcotics, extortion and syndication. While official sources noted a decrease in the overall crime rate in 2025, they also acknowledged that certain serious offenses, such as extortion, illegal taxation, and market syndication, persist. These activities have led to the city acquiring a reputation as the “collection centre.”Beneath the crime statistics lies a deeper social malaise- a “tyranny of silence.” The majority remains passive, paralyzed by fear or resignation, which leads to fostering a culture of compromise that allows impunity to reign. The issue is reportedly not confined to a few lawless elements. Dimapur is home to over 28 political factions and over a hundred different unions and organizations. It has been widely reported that many of these groups engage in collecting “fees” and “taxes” from local shops and traders under various pretexts. This environment of competing financial demands creates significant operational difficulties for the business community. An incident on October 24 highlights the problem, when police rescued a kidnapped businessman and arrested five individuals, including two alleged members of a political faction. If not the cadre members of various groups, then there are dozens of unions and associations and committees who have made illegal or unauthorized collection of fees etc as income for sustaining their activities and lifestyle. These incidents are having a tangible impact on the city’s economy. The state government faces losses in legitimate GST revenue as parallel collection systems flourish. In response to the challenging climate, a noticeable economic shift is occurring. Many non-local traders and investors are reportedly relocating their operations to neighboring commercial centers in Assam, such as Lahorijan, Khatkhati, and Guwahati. More alarmingly, the exodus is no longer just external. Local entrepreneurs are also exiting Dimapur, preferring the relative peace of nearby Chümoukedima to conduct business. This gradual exodus of entrepreneurs and traders threatens to erode Dimapur’s economic vitality. This only suggests s that a culture of “collective passivity” and silence, born from self-preservation, has allowed these activities to become entrenched. If this trend accelerates, Dimapur risks becoming a hollowed-out “forbidden city,” losing not only its economic vitality but its core identity as the gateway to Nagaland. A key challenge is the divergence between the primary obstacles to economic progress and the dominant themes in public discourse. This creates a situation where secondary issues not only camouflage the core syndrome but also act as distractions, preventing a direct focus on root causes. Addressing these long-standing challenges is essential for restoring public confidence and securing the city’s as well as Nagaland’s economic future.