DIMAPUR, JUL 6 (NPN): Naga Council Dimapur (NCD), Confederation of Nagaland Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CNCCI) and Western Sumi Youth Front (WSYF) have strongly condemned the recent incident involving the alleged monetary demand and vandalism at a Lounge in Dimapur, calling for strict adherence to the rule of law and effective enforcement of the Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition Act.
NCD: In a press release, NCD president GK Rengma and general secretary LK Peter Anal said the incident had exposed several problems confronting Dimapur. The council alleged that the practice of collecting so-called “free will donations” by different civil society organisations (CSOs) was no less than extortion, adding their modus operandi has been exposed.
It also said the incident had exposed the existence of more than 30 lounges allegedly engaged in the illegal sale of alcohol and questioned the effectiveness of the state’s prohibition law.
NCD said the implementation of the NLTP Act by the excise department and district administration had raised uncomfortable questions that required public discussion.
Further, the council remarked that society and the Church had largely remained silent on such issues and asserted that it would continue to raise public concern over matters affecting the larger interest of society.
CNCCI slams June 30 incident, questions DNSU for criticising DCCI: Confederation of Nagaland Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CNCCI) strongly condemned the June 30 incident in Dimapur, where student leaders took the law into their own hands at the Prysm establishment. CNCCI said that maintaining law and order is the duty of enforcement agencies, not individuals, even if grievances exist.
In a statement, CNCCI commended the Dimapur Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) for its proactive role in safeguarding the interests of the business community and appreciated its grievance cell for promptly responding to the incident at Prysm Lounge.
CNCCI also expressed concern over the Dimapur Naga Students’ Union (DNSU) describing DCCI’s intervention as that of a “third party”, stating that the matter clearly fell within DCCI’s legitimate mandate as it concerned the business community in Dimapur.
The chamber also questioned how more than 30 restaurants, bars, pubs and lounges continued to operate despite the provisions of the NLTP Act. It said the continued functioning of such establishments pointed to serious lapses in enforcement and demanded their immediate closure.
It further stated that if the Dimapur Restaurant Union was a government-registered body and found to be representing or facilitating establishments operating in contravention of the NLTP Act, it urged the competent authority to review its registration and take appropriate action, including cancellation of its registration, if warranted under the law.
CNCCI also called upon the NSF to clarify the institutional measures it intended to adopt to prevent similar incidents in the future, stating that such clarification would help restore public confidence in the organisation.
It further urged the state government to clearly state its position on the NLTP Act. CNCCI maintained that after more than three decades, the law should either be enforced in letter and spirit or appropriate legal reforms should be initiated.
The chamber asserted that continued ambiguity and selective enforcement undermined both the rule of law and public confidence.
WSYF condemns assault, warns against illegal demands: Western Sumi Youth Front (WSYF), through its media cell, has expressed deep disappointment and strongly condemned the “utterly unruly and violent assault” involving student leader Katho P. Awomi along with three accomplices, and Dimapur Restaurant Union president Tito Yepthomi.
WSYF said the breach of a private establishment, the attack on its owner, and the vandalism that followed were actions completely unbecoming of a student leader. Leadership, it stressed, must be defined by restraint, dialogue, and integrity. It said such blatant lawlessness was deeply disturbing and unacceptable given the perpetrator’s status.
It said a student leader is traditionally entrusted with the responsibility of guiding the youth, upholding moral integrity and advocating for peace, and that acting in violent rage was a betrayal of the principles of student leadership.
The organisation noted that the incident reflected larger systemic issues, particularly the weak enforcement of the Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition (NLTP) Act, 1989. The gap between law and ground reality often created volatile situations that put business owners at risk. WSYF urged authorities to study the matter thoroughly and take strict action against those responsible, warning that lawlessness could not be tolerated under selective enforcement.
Taking strong cognisance of the hostile environment faced by local businesses, WSYF issued a stern warning against rogue elements posing as associations or unions to extort, harass or impose unlawful demands. It said such practices must be penalised under the strictest provisions of law and made it clear that predatory actions under the banner of unions would not be tolerated. Any attempt to intimidate entrepreneurs in the Western region would be met with firm resistance. The organisation reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the rights and safety of business owners and called for accountability to restore public confidence.