Imphal, May 18: In yet another 'replay' of conceding helplessness in the face of the NSCN (IM) levying heavy illegal tax from goods carriers along the National Highways the Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh sought intervention from the Central Government authorities to check activities of the rebel group.

Deliberating on the NSCN (IM) randomly collecting tax from vehicles, particularly trucks plying on the National Highways, the Chief Minister bursts, "How long shall we tolerate.

The outfit collects huge illegal taxes particularly on National Highway 39 as if they are given certificate by the government of India".

Contending that reports of the armed outfit causing uncertainty and hardships to the vehicle operators were frequently highlighted to top leaders in New Delhi including the Prime Minister and Home Minister, Ibobi said "I repeatedly appraised this matter to them and we have to fight democratically to ensure the transporters are not taxed illegally.

responding to a call attention motion raised by O Joy Singh and Th Shyamkumar of the opposition Manipur Peoples' Party in the assembly today, the Chief Minister further maintained that besides intimating nefarious activities of the NSCN faction to Dr Manmohan Singh and Shivraj Patil, he makes in a point to put the matter to other Central leaders as well whenever opportunity provides during high level meetings.

"Since the NSCN (IM) is on a peace process with the centre the state government also regularly appraises the matter to Government interlocutor in the peace process P Padmanabhaiah and Chairman of the Ceasefire monitoring Cell general (Retd) Kulkarni to intervene and prevail upon the armed group to desist from collecting unauthorised taxes".

"The state chief secretary and Director General of Police have already conveyed the matter to their Nagaland counterparts," the chief minister said.

He however stated that security check points along NH-39 have been enhanced particularly within the State's territory including at Sekmai, Kanglatongbi, Senapati, Lairou, Maram, Tadubi, Mao, Sapermeina and Taphou as preventive measure.

Apart from such arrangements, security escorts are provided to goods carriers on the same route thrice a week, the CM said adding that his government has identified certain points to establish more police stations on the highways under the highway protection force scheme.

problems of alarming proportion besieging the NH 39 has also prompted the state government to intensely take up development works on the NH-53 route that connects Manipur to Silchar, he informed while listing Makru and Barak bridges development work as very strategic.

The chief minister also voiced discontentment over cessation of the super highways in Silchar.

"I repeatedly urged the central leaders as to why the Super Highway could not be extended up to Moreh town bordering Myanmar through NH 39," Ibobi claimed.

Another alternative route to get rid of this problem is the proposed Jiribam to Imphal via Tupul rail line.

If this train comes then the extortion rate would be drastically minimized, he observed.

Besides NSCN (IM) various other underground outfits are also indulged in demanding money from all sectors.

This has hampered all developmental activities taken up by the government, the Chief Minister said.

While raising the motion O Joy suggested that the house endorse deputing a team of legislators irrespective of political affiliation to exert pressure upon the centre on the matter.

He said besides collecting illegal taxes truck drivers frequently face physical assault while servicing on the NH-39 in Nagaland areas.

The outfit (NSCN-IM) has grossly violated the ceasefire ground rules, he said adding "I don't believe that the centre is not aware of this unwarranted activities".

Owing to such illegal-taxing businessmen in the State capital have hiked prices of essential commodities so as to make up for their profit goal, the Opposition MLA said.

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