The anti-corruption team comprising of Nagaland Voluntary Consumers’ Organisation (NVCO) volunteers and students of Kohima Law College (KLC) led by its team leader, Kezhokhoto Savi raided the check-gate at Phesama, Kohima maintained by Nagaland Police on August 9.

The raid was conducted to show their “strongest resentment” for illegal collection of taxes/cash throughout the state by various organisation, association, union, council, etc., together with “several governmental departments” thus “adversely” affecting citizens as consumers while availing transport services and buying both essential and non-essential commodities at a higher price.

The team visited the check-gate in support of the government order in banning illegal collection of taxes/cash with their slogan - “We do not want our land to be a land of illegal collection of taxes/cash” and this exercise was also part of the team’s legal literacy and awareness campaign.

In this regard, the team has appealed to the state government to effectively carry out the order so as to “completely do away with this menace”.

The team members while disclosing they were “eye-witnesses to several Manipuri handyman/drivers bringing money to police-counter”, said when enquired, it was learnt that they pay at least Rs.50 per entry towards Dimapur.

In response, the officer-in-charge said that they were “not going to collect any cash from today as they received information from higher-ups not to take any cash in the check-gates”.

“Vehicles plying were stopped for some time and the team even shouted at some impatient truckers, taxis, Tata mobiles saying they are fighting for them so that they do not to pay any illegal taxes/cash in this check-gate”, stated the team.

Dimapur being the “most affected place” where “maximum indulgence of illegal collection of taxes/cash” takes place, the team called upon every citizen to join hands in fighting against this menace “as it is shameful as a Christian state”.

The team further said, “On August 8, a butcher shop situated opposite the main entrance of Bethel Medical Centre having no specific name/receipt badly cheated students of Kohima Law College when four girls bought 20 kgs of meat to be prepare for the team by giving them 3.5 kgs less.

In this regard, the team appealed to the public to be “vigilant and strict” as this has become the “tradition of butchers in cheating consumer/buyers just to get more money by way of unfair means”.

The team also reminded NPSC that the students are firm on their stand to fight against the exam fees of Rs. 300.

The team said public grievances particularly aspiring NPSC candidates were yet to solve in regard to the “exorbitant rate” charged by “as it continually pinches the students and the parents especially poor parents”.

The team expressed its resentment for increase of Rs. 100 this year per applicant, adding “if the public remain silent then NPSC may continually increase the exam fees every year and that also at an exorbitant rate”.

Meanwhile, NVCO submitted a representation to Chief Secretary Nagaland to immediately implement the Food Safety & Standard Act, 2006.

Though the deadline (August 4) has been extended, NVCO said, “It is important for state health department to execute the direction of the Food Safety & Standard Authority of India at the earliest to ensure the best food safety with standard in the state as our markets are still flowing with huge amount of sub-standard goods”.

 The team said it would continue to fight against the black-marketing of LPG cooking gas which leads to LPG shortage in Kohima & Dimapur and the district administration to stop restaurants, hotels and hostels from using LPG domestic connection.