Dimapur: Hundreds of vehicles on Saturday rushed from Nagaland to Assam to fill up on petrol, resulting in massive traffic jams along routes leading out of the state. 

On Saturday, the Confederation of Nagaland Chamber of Commerce and Industry called for an indefinite shutdown of businesses as a mark of protest against extortionists. The call for a shutdown was first issued by the Dimapur Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI), an apex trade body in Nagaland’s commercial nerve centre.

The trade bodies’ disaffection stems from being charged “taxes” by Naga underground political groups. The DCCI has claimed that there is “no end in sight to the unabated multiple taxation, intimidation and summons” by the underground Naga political groups.

Most vehicle owners in Dimapur were seen heading to the Lahorijan and Khatkati areas of Karbi Anglong, Assam, which lies just across the border. “Apart from petrol, people are also heading out to purchase essentials such as food”, Miriam Rengma, a resident of Chumoukedima, a district newly carved out of Dimapur, informed Business North East. “It has taken us a long time to reach a market area because of the heavy traffic. Finding a parking spot has also become a great challenge.”

Many people in the state have also resorted to ‘panic buying’ as the government continues its discussions with trade bodies, Business North East has learned. Many of them are coming to Assam.

On Wednesday, the Petroleum Dealers’ Association of Dimapur, Niuland, and Chumoukedima asked the government to “rein in the situation” to avoid “further complication.” It also asked petroleum outlets to keep their shutters down to observe the shutdown.

Meanwhile, the state government has asked the Director General of Police (DGP) and commissioner to ramp up action against “anti-social elements”, and requested the DCCI to call off the protest. The Nagaland government’s Home Commissioner has asked police to continue arrests of “underground” cadres found extorting and collecting taxes, and detain such culprits under provisions of the National Security Act (NSA).

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