The Business Association of Nagas (BAN) has strongly condemned the NSCN/GPRN (Khango-Hokato Vusshe)’s reprehensible extortion demand of Rs 50 lakh from Aolemba, chairman of the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) responsible for managing and operating the Common Facility Centre (CFC) for Wooden Furniture Cluster at Toluvi here.
In a statement, BAN president L Mongkum Jamir and vice-president Dr. Yan Murry demanded that the government take a firm stance against NSCN/GPRN (Khango-Hokato Vusshe)’s extortion attempts and ensure that the rule of law was upheld, apprehend the culprit and mastermind responsible for extortion and intimidation, protect citizens’ rights by ensuring that citizens were not harassed or coerced by any organisation, strengthen institutions and ensure that the government was effective in maintaining law and order, and legitimate authorities investigate and address any genuine concerns about corruption or irregularities.
BAN said the situation raised concerns over the government’s effectiveness in maintaining law and order, adding that the government’s silence on the matter was particularly troubling, since it could be perceived as its inability to protect citizens. They alleged that the lack of effective enforcement and political will had created a power vacuum, allowing NSCN (Khango-Hokato Vusshe) to exploit the situation and spread insecurity and hopelessness among citizens.
The association maintained that the government’s inaction and silence in the face of extortion attempts had emboldened such organisations, undermining the rule of law and eroding public trust in institutions.
BAN urged the government to take immediate action to assert its authority, investigate and prosecute those responsible, and restore the faith of citizens in the system.
Asserting that they stood firmly against corruption and supported legitimate authorities in taking action against anyone involved in corrupt activities, BAN said, with extortion demands failing, the NSCN/GPRN (Khango-Hokato Vusshe) resorting to moral policing was a last-ditch attempt to salvage their image. Ironically, they pointed out that this tactic only served to reveal their true motives, eroding their credibility and exposing their desperation.
Declaring that they were fully cognizant of the modus operandi employed by certain individuals who utilised various organisational fronts to perpetrate extortionist activities, they cautioned that such actions and duplicitous intentions would ultimately be exposed, and their attempts to legitimise their activities using the interest of the Naga people and development plank would be revealed when the time was opportune.
BAN asserted that Naga people would not be taken for granted, and their rights and interests would be safeguarded. They maintained that if the people truly loved their state and sincerely work in the interest of Naga people and development, they must unequivocally reject the scourges of extortion and intimidation. BAN called for recognising that a life of luxury built on the hard work and sweat of others was morally reprehensible. Instead, they called for making sacrifices in the present to pave the way for a brighter tomorrow.
They highlighted, “We owe it to ourselves, our children, and our state to take a firm stance against extortion, corruption, and fear-mongering. By doing so, we can create a better future for generations to come, where hard work, honesty, and integrity are valued and rewarded.”
Assuring that the BAN would continue to monitor the situation and ensuring that the rule of law was upheld, the duo declared that they would not tolerate any attempt to disrupt the established order, undermine governmental authority, or compromise the future of Naga people.
Monday, June 30, 2025