A city under siege

A recent incident in Dimapur has once again exposed a troubling pattern that has been steadily eroding the city’s social fabric and economic vitality. According to an FIR filed at East Police Station, a 32-year-old resident of Naga Colony, Burma Camp, died after a violent chain of events that began on the night of November 9. The report states that the victim and his friend had approached a couple engaged in a loud altercation which soon spiralled into a confrontation involving several others. What began as an attempt to calm a dispute reportedly escalated into a physical attack severe enough to send both men to the hospital. The FIR further alleges that instead of receiving proper care and legal protection, the victim was compelled to leave the hospital under pressure from the accused who insisted that the matter be “settled” informally. He was said to have been forced to sign a written agreement requiring him to pay a fine of twenty-five thousand rupees by the following evening with threats of confinement if he failed to comply. His wife also reported that the accused and their family individually demanded money and warned that the situation would worsen unless he met them again the next day. On November 10, while the victim sought to resolve the issue, he was reportedly attacked from behind and sustained injuries that proved fatal. This sequence of coercion, intimidation, and unchecked violence mirrors a deeper problem that Dimapur has been grappling with. The city has long been known for its energy, diversity, and commercial leadership within Nagaland. Yet in recent years, that vibrance has been overshadowed by a growing sense of insecurity. Crime syndicates and lawless elements appear to have entrenched themselves to such an extent that ordinary residents increasingly feel vulnerable and unprotected. The economic impact of these conditions is unmistakable. Entrepreneurs and traders, once the backbone of Dimapur’s thriving markets, have been steadily moving their operations to nearby hubs such as Khatkhati and Lahorijan. These towns offer zero operating costs because traders there do not pay the so-called taxes and fees demanded by a maze of unions, groups and associations. Understandably, customers in Dimapur find goods cheaper in these neighbouring areas while Nagaland loses valuable revenue through declining GST collections and the steady outflow of capital. This migration of business is not an abstract concern for economists alone since it represents a tangible loss of confidence in the city’s governance and safety. Such developments raise serious questions about the priorities and effectiveness of maintaining a complex law and order. When extortion networks and groups are able to operate with impunity, they reshape the rules of public life. They silence dissent, discourage genuine entrepreneurship, and weaken the authority of legitimate institutions. Dimapur’s residents are left to confront a reality in which disputes are settled after paying hefty amount of cash rather than through the law, and where lawless elements believe they can act with impunity. Despite rallies held by ACAUT in 2012 and PAC of Naga Council Dimapur in 2018, these conditions persist and risks the city to being reduced into a hollow version of its past identity. Dimapur was envisioned as a centre of opportunity and enterprise, a place where communities could grow together. Allowing it to drift toward fear and stagnation would be a disservice to that legacy. The recent tragedy is not an isolated event but serves as another confirmation that demands urgent action from every responsible authority.