Dimapur’s industry

The National Party Youth Front (NPYF) has raised its voice against the unchecked growth of multiple taxes(whether authorized, unauthorized, or outright illegal) collected at check gates and entry points in Dimapur. This problem is not new for it was birthed in the mid 1990s introduced by some Naga political groups and has since grown into a monstrous practice that now defines the city’s reputation. Visitors entering Nagaland’s most prominent business hub are often greeted not by hospitality, but by individuals demanding payments under various names and pretexts. What should be a center of commerce has instead become an illegal collection ground. The prac-tice of extortion, disguised as taxation, is carried out by both government and non government groups, including numerous Naga political factions whose numbers continue to rise each year. Various Naga tribes have long criticized these collections, describing them as not only illegal but also illogical. Those who justify such practices claim they are necessary for sustenance, but this reasoning is unacceptable. It is unethical, unconstitutional, and even unchristian. What has emerged is a culture of criminalization, where extortion is normalized and society is forced to tol-erate it. There have been attempts to resist this menace. The Against Corruption and Unabated Taxation (ACAUT) movement once fought against illegal collections, but its efforts placed it in direct conflict with powerful political groups. Many unions and associations also opposed ACAUT, fearing that their own sources of income as office bearers would be exposed. This re-sistance collapsed, leaving Dimapur’s citizens with little protection against the growing tide of extortion. Adding further poison to the situation is the syndication of markets. Several factions, unions, associations, and enterprises have formed cartels that fix prices, protect trade monopolies, and exert influence through muscle power. Syndication is unethical and distorts the free market by artificially inflating prices and restricting competition. This manipulation not only harms con-sumers but also undermines the very foundation of commerce in Dimapur. Unless this Franken-stein of extortion and illegal collection is stamped out, Dimapur’s trade and commerce will face inevitable decline. Businesses will be forced to relocate to nearby towns such as Lahorijan, Khat-khati, or Chümoukedima, where the extortionists don’t have a free run unlike Dimapur. Already, traders and entrepreneurs express frustration at the lack of government enforcement. Despite of-ficial bans on gate collections, the practice continues openly, signaling that Nagaland operates under the rule of outlaw rather than law. In such a climate, anyone with the backing of guns and goons can impose their will unchecked. If this situation persists, the future will be bleak for the generations born in the 1990s and 2000s-the millennials and Gen Z. They will inherit neighbor-hoods controlled by gangs masquerading as respectable leaders of society. Instead of thriving in a business hub, they will grow up in communities dominated by extortionists who exploit trade for personal gain. This is not just a tragedy for Dimapur but a betrayal of the values of justice, fairness, and community that Nagaland claims to uphold. The lament of the NPYF is not merely a complaint but a stern warning. Dimapur’s illegal taxation crisis is eroding trust, crippling com-merce, and corrupting society. Unless decisive action is taken, the city risks losing its status as Nagaland’s business hub and condemning future generations to a life under the corrosive shadow of mafia and extortion. The time to act is now before Dimapur’s economy and society collapse under the weight of unchecked criminality.