Nagaland: No more factional taxes in Phek town: PTPF

The Phek Town Public Forum (PTPF) has announced that the people of Phek Town will put on hold all taxation to multiple factions with effect from 2026, citing growing public hardship due to excessive factional collections.
In a statement issued in the interest of the general public and all stakeholders, PTPF said it was constrained to make its position clear, noting that it functions as a town-based civil society organisation mandated by the citizens of Phek Town to assist the district administration and law enforcement agencies in maintaining peace, harmony and public order.
Recalling past arrangements, PTPF said that in the initial years only a few factions, including the NNC-FGN, had a presence in the town. Holding the national cause close to their hearts, the people of Phek Town, under the leadership of the PTPF, had willingly extended support to national workers through contributions in various forms, it said.
To avoid multiple taxation, PTPF said all factional collections were earlier channelled into a common pool, with the forum entrusted by the public to ensure fairness and justice to all factions. It said national workers, in turn, cooperated with the public in maintaining peace and tranquility in the town.
However, PTPF stated that in recent years, with the proliferation of factions to more than thirty, citizens had been subjected to excessive and unbearable taxation.
Taking serious note of the hardship faced by the public, the forum said it convened a meeting with factions, which was attended by representatives of 17 groups.
During the meeting, PTPF said it clearly conveyed that, with effect from 2026, the people of Phek Town would put on hold all taxation to multiple factions.
The forum said the decision was in consonance with the standing resolution of the Chakhesang Public Organisation (CPO) and the consistent stand of various civil society organisations and tribal hohos advocating the principle of “one government, one tax.” It asserted that until all factions converge into a single national platform and one government, the people of Phek Town would not pay tax to any faction.
PTPF further cautioned that if any faction attempts to disturb peace and tranquility in the town, the public would not cooperate with such faction and appropriate public action, as deemed fit, would be initiated with or without the involvement of the district administration and law enforcement agencies.