Nagaland Timber Traders’ Union (NTTU) has expressed shock over the “resumption of illegal taxation” allegedly by police and forest department personnel at check gates despite the state government having ordered removal of inter-district check gates.
In a press release, NTTU president Kevise Sogotsu demanded immediate suspension of the erring personnel and officials (police and forest) and expressed hope that the government would keep its promises.
In the event of inaction from the higher-ups, NTTU cautioned that it would along with all district units continue fight in the court of law as they would be left with no option.
NTTU claimed that on February 9 morning, a truck (NL 01 G 8524) carrying local timber from Kiphire en route to Dimapur was stopped at Peducha by police personnel. It claimed that when the police personnel asked what the truck was ferrying, the owner of the timber, who is also a member of NTTU, replied that he was transporting local timber. NTTU claimed that the police personnel then immediately demanded Rs. 5,000.
After much negotiation, the union said the truck was allowed to proceed after the member paid Rs. 1,500.
Further, NTTU said that on February 10, the same truck, which halted at Medziphema for the night, was stopped at Forest Check Gate Chumuokedima around 3.10 p.m.
The union said that the forest personnel manning the check gate asked the quantity of timber and whether the truck had transit permit (TP). When its member said he did not have TP, NTTU claimed the forest officials outrightly demanded Rs. 22,000.
It said the occupants pleaded that they could not pay such a hefty amount because of the expenses incurred during the long trip from Kiphire.
In the end, NTTU claimed that the truck was released after payment of Rs. 5,000.
In this regard, NTTU has questioned both the police and forest personnel on what ground they were “again resorting to this daylight robbery?”
NTTU said that after it fought tooth and nail against illegal taxation at check gates besides moving the court, the state government ordered removal of inter-district check gates.
It said that timber farmers or any Naga citizen had the right to transport his own timber anywhere within Nagaland for local or personal use.
The union said that the question of possessing TP did not arise when transportation of timber or any other forest products was within the state. It said that timber traders were paying royalty to the government if timber was transported outside the state.
“Are the Police and Forest personnel and officials not getting salary from the government that they had to stoop down so low as to fleece the hardworking tree farmers and traders of their livelihood and sustenance?” NTTU questioned.