As stated in the recent local dailies, there are standing government policies dated June 22, 2009 and December 8, 2009 against collection of taxes (entry fees) in the police check gates. Let me try to fill in for the general public who may not be aware of how much the police are collecting per vehicle per trip. On a trip from Dimapur, Nagaland to Senapati, Manipur the rates charged by police in check gates on a mini truck (709) is listed below: Bigger trucks pay twice as much or more. Maybe some owners of the bigger trucks will fill us in on how much are they made to pay per trip.
Chumukedima gate = Rs 100,
Lal mati gate = Rs. 50
KMC toll = Rs. 50,
Exise , Kohima = Rs 20
New Reserve, Phesama, = Rs 200,
Kuzhama gate = Rs 200
Mao gate = Rs.100,
Mao council = Rs. 20
Senapati police = Rs.100
The above is the Rs 840 is for the trip with load. Even on the return trip when the vehicle is traveling empty, the following fees are collected.
Senapati drivers union = Rs. 20,
Khuzhama check gate = Rs. 20
Petroleum union tax = Rs. 20,
New Reserve gate = Rs. 20+20
Gaspani (Medzephema) = Rs. 10,
DMC (five sets of taxes) = Rs. 170
Soon after the Home minister’s declaration that taxes at the check gates were illegal and therefore to be stopped a year a half ago, I traveled with my truck one day and saw it all personally. I agreed to pay most of the smaller fees they were charging at the police check gates. But when I came to Khuzhama gate, I asked the driver to pay Rs. 50 as a courtesy, not as required fee. However, the police at the check gate asked for Rs. 100 and refused to accept my Rs. 50. So, I went to the gate personally and asked what tax they were collecting. The policeman who operated the gate pointed me back into a small dingy room behind the gate. Prior to this time the police used to collect entry fee right at the gate, but after the Home minister’s order, they moved the collection of tax inside, away from public view. When I asked again what tax they were collecting, the policeman who was collecting money simply retorted, “What tax?” When I said,” I sent Rs. 50 through my driver, and you refused to accept and I was told you wanted Rs. 100.” Then he replied, “That’s what we collect from everybody.” Then he simply said, “ We will not take unless it is Rs. 100. I told him, “Then I will not give any” and I left to go to my vehicle. Just when I was about to climb up to my vehicle, he shouted, “ Bring the vehicle documents for checking.” I told my driver to take them to him as it is proper for them to check the vehicle documents, even though in this case, it was being done merely out of spite, as they were not checking any documents before I refused to pay the fee they demanded.
A few months after this incident, the economic blockade by ANSAM limited the trucks traveling the highway 39 (29) and the fee at Khuzhama gate doubled on those trucks that were traveling to Rs. 200 (two hundred) per mini truck. As per the report from my driver, the policeman told him they were running out of money to run their mess (Kitchen) and therefore they have increased the fee. Ever since that time the entry fee for a mini truck remains Rs. 200. Even the New Reserve check gate which used to not take entry fee, now charges Rs. 200 as entry fee. In support of the police department, may I please ask the state government to start paying salaries to the policemen and giving them rations for their mess. They can’t be made to support themselves on the mere lakhs of rupees they collect from hundreds of trucks that go through their gates every single day.
Please remember small businesses are vital to state economy and development works, and we can’t unfairly punish them for contributing to the development of our society.
I have a healthy respect for policemen and I have many friends in the police force. Without them we cannot maintain law and order in the state, but as for the issue of collection of huge amount of money from small businesses, I condemn such corruption. About a month ago, even the IRB conducting temporary security check at Purana Bazaar started collecting entry fee on trucks and made my driver to pay Rs. 50. This is totally out of place especially while doing security check. The drivers are too scared to argue with the police, so whether it is right or wrong; they pay whatever is demanded of them. My contention is that if we do not demand our right and stand together in getting rid of corruption, one thing after another will surely ruin our society. This problem may not affect everyone directly, but indirectly all are affected as you are paying higher price on everything you buy as a result of huge tax vehicle owners are made to pay as demanded by many organizations. The issue addressed here only pertains to the daily per trip expenses. It may be mentioned that we are also made to pay yearly tax both from state government and the underground governments, all in terms of thousands.
To the honorable Home Minister Mr.Imkong L. Imchen, may I make a small suggestion. If you are serious about curbing this evil practices, PLEASE CONSIDER SENDING UNDERCOVER AGENTS. Put them on loaded trucks and let them report directly to you. You don’t have to do this many days to find out whether your police department is obeying your orders. It is great that you want the district administrations and the civil societies to initiate action, but there is a need to have another level of checking if you seriously want to stop this evil. The undercover agents should be sent out from time to time to make sure the policy stands implemented. Thanking the state government and the general public for their understanding and support in eliminating this evil practice.
Dahru Veino
Diphupar B, Dimapur
e-mail: da_hrii@yahoo.com
Chumukedima gate = Rs 100,
Lal mati gate = Rs. 50
KMC toll = Rs. 50,
Exise , Kohima = Rs 20
New Reserve, Phesama, = Rs 200,
Kuzhama gate = Rs 200
Mao gate = Rs.100,
Mao council = Rs. 20
Senapati police = Rs.100
The above is the Rs 840 is for the trip with load. Even on the return trip when the vehicle is traveling empty, the following fees are collected.
Senapati drivers union = Rs. 20,
Khuzhama check gate = Rs. 20
Petroleum union tax = Rs. 20,
New Reserve gate = Rs. 20+20
Gaspani (Medzephema) = Rs. 10,
DMC (five sets of taxes) = Rs. 170
Soon after the Home minister’s declaration that taxes at the check gates were illegal and therefore to be stopped a year a half ago, I traveled with my truck one day and saw it all personally. I agreed to pay most of the smaller fees they were charging at the police check gates. But when I came to Khuzhama gate, I asked the driver to pay Rs. 50 as a courtesy, not as required fee. However, the police at the check gate asked for Rs. 100 and refused to accept my Rs. 50. So, I went to the gate personally and asked what tax they were collecting. The policeman who operated the gate pointed me back into a small dingy room behind the gate. Prior to this time the police used to collect entry fee right at the gate, but after the Home minister’s order, they moved the collection of tax inside, away from public view. When I asked again what tax they were collecting, the policeman who was collecting money simply retorted, “What tax?” When I said,” I sent Rs. 50 through my driver, and you refused to accept and I was told you wanted Rs. 100.” Then he replied, “That’s what we collect from everybody.” Then he simply said, “ We will not take unless it is Rs. 100. I told him, “Then I will not give any” and I left to go to my vehicle. Just when I was about to climb up to my vehicle, he shouted, “ Bring the vehicle documents for checking.” I told my driver to take them to him as it is proper for them to check the vehicle documents, even though in this case, it was being done merely out of spite, as they were not checking any documents before I refused to pay the fee they demanded.
A few months after this incident, the economic blockade by ANSAM limited the trucks traveling the highway 39 (29) and the fee at Khuzhama gate doubled on those trucks that were traveling to Rs. 200 (two hundred) per mini truck. As per the report from my driver, the policeman told him they were running out of money to run their mess (Kitchen) and therefore they have increased the fee. Ever since that time the entry fee for a mini truck remains Rs. 200. Even the New Reserve check gate which used to not take entry fee, now charges Rs. 200 as entry fee. In support of the police department, may I please ask the state government to start paying salaries to the policemen and giving them rations for their mess. They can’t be made to support themselves on the mere lakhs of rupees they collect from hundreds of trucks that go through their gates every single day.
Please remember small businesses are vital to state economy and development works, and we can’t unfairly punish them for contributing to the development of our society.
I have a healthy respect for policemen and I have many friends in the police force. Without them we cannot maintain law and order in the state, but as for the issue of collection of huge amount of money from small businesses, I condemn such corruption. About a month ago, even the IRB conducting temporary security check at Purana Bazaar started collecting entry fee on trucks and made my driver to pay Rs. 50. This is totally out of place especially while doing security check. The drivers are too scared to argue with the police, so whether it is right or wrong; they pay whatever is demanded of them. My contention is that if we do not demand our right and stand together in getting rid of corruption, one thing after another will surely ruin our society. This problem may not affect everyone directly, but indirectly all are affected as you are paying higher price on everything you buy as a result of huge tax vehicle owners are made to pay as demanded by many organizations. The issue addressed here only pertains to the daily per trip expenses. It may be mentioned that we are also made to pay yearly tax both from state government and the underground governments, all in terms of thousands.
To the honorable Home Minister Mr.Imkong L. Imchen, may I make a small suggestion. If you are serious about curbing this evil practices, PLEASE CONSIDER SENDING UNDERCOVER AGENTS. Put them on loaded trucks and let them report directly to you. You don’t have to do this many days to find out whether your police department is obeying your orders. It is great that you want the district administrations and the civil societies to initiate action, but there is a need to have another level of checking if you seriously want to stop this evil. The undercover agents should be sent out from time to time to make sure the policy stands implemented. Thanking the state government and the general public for their understanding and support in eliminating this evil practice.
Dahru Veino
Diphupar B, Dimapur
e-mail: da_hrii@yahoo.com
