KOHIMA: Nagaland Home Minister Imkong L Imchen on Friday said the collection of ‘taxes’ by underground factions was a violation of the Ceasefire Ground Rules that the latter agreed upon during the signing of the Ceasefire with the Union government.
Addressing a press conference here Mr Imchen said according to the Ceasefire Agreement with the NSCNs, under clause ‘I’ with NSCN-IM and clause ‘K’ of the agreement with NSCN-K, both had agreed not to resort to any forceful collection of money.
”But both factions are extorting money in the name of ‘tax’,” the minister said.
He said the government was aware of the fact that many sections were collecting money in the name of the underground factions. Some underground cadres were collecting money in the name of their respective organizations, he added.
The Ceasefire agreement was signed by the Union government with the NSCN-IM and NSCN-K and the state government was not a party to the agreement, although it always supported both the agreements and facilitated the peace process.
Mr Imchen appreciated the role of the para-military force and state police for taking strict action against extortionists, but expressed his unhappiness over the judiciary which issued release orders, ”even before preparing the chargesheet against the arrested persons”.The Home Minister admitted that the underground factions were also collecting money in the name of ‘tax’ from government employees.(UNI)