Staff Reporter
DIMAPUR, OCT 27 (NPN): Several business organisations and urban local bodies in Dimapur and Chümoukedima have opposed the NSCN/FRGN directive calling for complete Sunday closure of business establishments and the shutdown of non-local businesses within 30 days, questioning its authority and warning against coercion and discrimination.
DMC, EDTC & DC: Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC) and East Dimapur Town Council (EDTC) have opposed the NSCN/FRGN directive calling for complete Sunday closure of business establishments and permanent shutdown of non-local businesses within 30 days, asserting that regulating businesses and market hours falls under their respective jurisdictions.
While both urban local bodies maintained that shops could open after church services on Sundays, Deputy Commissioner Dimapur Dr. Tinojongshi Chang said the district administration would follow State government directives, adding that no specific order on the matter had been issued so far. He said the administration would not act on directives from political groups, organisations or business associations, and that although various political groups were working towards a solution, nothing had been concluded.
Chang said business regulation and market hours fell under the purview of the publicly elected DMC and EDTC, referring to their existing arrangement allowing shops to open after church services.
DMC chairperson Hukheto Yepthomi said the council had passed a resolution opposing forced business closures. The Sunday closure issue was discussed with civil society organisations, including the Tribal Council, Dimapur Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI), Dimapur Hindu Sanstha and Christian associations, before the DMC issued its order allowing shops to open after church services around October 13-14.
On the directive targeting non-local businesses, Yepthomi said it was not applicable, stressing that Dimapur had developed through contributions from different communities. Describing it as a “mini-India”, he said people of different religions and backgrounds had lived harmoniously and celebrated festivals together.
He said the DMC had raised the law and order issue with Chang and the Commissioner of Police. The council would meet the deputy commissioner and business representatives within two or three days and communicate the outcome to the media and public.
EDTC chairperson Niuto Awomi said no other organisation or association had authority to regulate businesses within the council’s jurisdiction, adding that businesses with valid EDTC trade licences were authorised to operate and any action against them would be taken under its rules.
Awomi said shops could open after church services, while hotels, eateries, pharmacies, petrol pumps and street vendors could operate for public convenience. Sunday closures could be voluntary, but the council would not enforce a complete shutdown, particularly during the festive season.
Urging shopkeepers to report threats, extortion or unlawful demands, Awomi assured that complaints would be investigated and law enforcement agencies informed. He said the council had not received any such complaints so far.
Meanwhile, DC Dimapur said his office had received no grievances regarding the directive, although the DMC chairperson had met him the previous day and indicated that the council intended to submit a representation. The administration would examine it and take up the matter with the State government.
On security, DC said the administration and police had discussed measures to strengthen security in public spaces and marketplaces, with police and security forces alerted and deployment strengthened to prevent any breakdown of law and order.
He urged anyone facing threats, extortion or other untoward incidents to inform the nearest police station or district administration promptly, cautioning that rumours without concrete information could not form the basis for apprehending culprits.
DUCCF: Dimapur Urban Council Chairmen Federation (DUCCF) has extended support to Confederation of Nagaland Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CNCCI), opposing a reported directive by NSCN/FRGN calling for Sunday shop closures and the shutdown of non-Naga business establishments.
In separate statements, the organisations said Sunday worship and Christian values deserved respect, but business regulations should be addressed through lawful processes and consultation rather than coercion or discrimination.
DUCCF through its media cell said a blanket closure directive, particularly one targeting businesses based on community, risked creating fear and division. It maintained that non-Naga business owners and workers were part of Nagaland’s social and economic life and that their rights, security and livelihoods must be respected.
The federation called upon the FRGN to clarify the purpose and authority behind the directive, including the rationale for calling for non-Naga businesses to close. It also urged the state government to clarify its position, investigate the matter and assure the business community that lawful businesses could operate without intimidation or discrimination.
Expressing concern over the number of Naga political groups and factions, DUCCF questioned whether the reported 37 groups were necessary in a small state like Nagaland. The federation urged tribal hohos and other responsible organisations to address the proliferation of groups and directives that, it said, created uncertainty among the public.
DUCCF said Naga political aspirations deserved serious attention, but matters affecting public order, trade and livelihoods had to be handled responsibly and within a lawful framework.
It said supporting Naga entrepreneurs should mean creating opportunities for their growth, not pushing Nagaland towards economic isolation or permitting discrimination against other communities.
DCCI: Dimapur Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DCCI) also expressed solidarity with statements issued by the Naga Council Dimapur (NCD) and CNCCI concerning the reported directives, particularly those relating to non-local business closures and commercial activities.
DCCI through its media cell said promoting Naga entrepreneurship must go hand in hand with fair competition, inclusivity, mutual respect and peaceful coexistence. It noted that Dimapur’s role as a commercial hub depended on contributions from entrepreneurs, traders, workers and consumers from diverse backgrounds.
DCCI warned that actions creating fear and insecurity among legitimate business establishments could affect not only individual traders but also employment, livelihoods and the wider economy.
It said no business should face threats, intimidation, harassment, extortion or forced closure while conducting lawful commercial activities. The chamber asserted that matters concerning trade regulation, public order and compliance with laws should be addressed through appropriate legal and constitutional mechanisms.
Acknowledging the importance of Sunday worship, DCCI said respect for religious sentiments was best fostered through mutual understanding, voluntary cooperation and constructive dialogue rather than coercion.
The chamber urged the state government, district administration and law-enforcement agencies to clarify the legal status of the reported directives and take preventive measures to ensure the safety of lawful business establishments.
It also appealed to organisations and the public to exercise restraint and avoid actions that could deepen communal divisions, stressing that supporting Naga businesses and protecting the legitimate interests of all lawful traders were compatible objectives.
CCC&TA: Chümoukedima Chamber of Commerce and Trade Association (CCC&TA) expressed strong opposition to what it described as an unlawful order issued by the FRGN on October 23, 2026, calling for a complete shutdown of shops on Sundays. It also expressed solidarity with CNCCI statement issued on October 25 opposing the NSCN/FRGN directive.
The association described the order as arbitrary and contrary to constitutional governance, due process and free trade and commerce, arguing that no individual or community should face coercion, intimidation or punitive action without lawful authority.
Acknowledging Sunday as a sacred day of worship and thanksgiving for Christians, CCC&TA stressed the importance of respecting personal choice and liberty in a democratic society.
It also said the state government and stakeholders had a responsibility to ensure essential services and mobility for travellers, including people seeking medical care, tourists and families.
CCC&TA said its stand was peaceful and rooted in constitutional principles and the rule of law.