Mokokchung: Commercial Vehicle Owners threatens to impose ‘Chakka Bandh’

The Commercial Vehicle Owners Association (CVOA), Mokokchung has issued a 7-day ultimatum to the Superintendent of Police (SP,) Mokokchung over the delay in payment for their services during the 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly Election duty earlier this year. The CVOA of Mokokchung in its memorandum to the SP stated that they will be forced to impose ‘Chakka Bandh’ on commercial vehicles within Mokokchung District if their demand for “full disbursement of all dues” was not made within 7 days of receipt of their memo.

The CVOA expressed utmost resentment to the SP over the “continued indifference towards our appeal for timely disbursement of commercial fares incurred during the 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly Election duty in the month of February 2023.” They pointed out that they have appealed on numerous occasions, both verbal and in writing, for payment of the outstanding dues. “However, your lack of empathy towards our appeals has created a trust deficit between our two entities,” it maintained.

In their memorandum, the CVOA made two key demands. The first was that they insist on the full disbursement of all dues accrued for their services within seven days of the letter’s receipt. The association emphasized that they will not accept partial payment. Secondly, the association stated that they have also resolved to accept only pre-paid payment for their services during the upcoming Lok Sabha Election 2024, if their services are required.

In the event of failure on the part of the SP to comply with their appeal, the CVOA stated that they will be “forced to impose Chakka Bandh on commercial vehicles within Mokokchung District after seven days of issue of this appeal.”

The memorandum was appended by Sangyumongba, president, Mokokchung District Truck Owners Association; Lanuakum, president, Mokokchung District Private Bus Union; Meyiba, president, Mokokchung Pick-Up Union; Temjen, president, Mokokchung District Two Wheeler Taxi Association; and Tongpangkokba, president, All Nagaland Taxi Association Mokokchung Unit.

Further, addressing a press conference on Wednesday at the office of the All Nagaland Taxi Association Mokokchung Unit in Aongza ward over the issue, the signatories of the memorandum revealed that the outstanding payment was for vehicles requisitioned to provide service to the security personnel during the election.

The association’s representatives explained that their vehicles were requisitioned in January, and some were used until March. They also noted that many private vehicle owners whose vehicles were requisitioned are still awaiting payment but lack the platform to voice their distress.

The signatories stressed that they had verbally appealed to the authorities on multiple occasions, and that they submitted an appeal in writing on 22 June. However, despite the passage of 3-4 months, they have received no response, leading to the issuance of the ultimatum with a 7-day notice, it was informed.

They maintained that if their demands were not met, all commercial vehicles including trucks, buses, taxis (both four and two-wheelers), and pickups, will impose a “Chakka Bandh” until the payments are made. They also sought the support of the public in their cause.

The association also clarified that payment for vehicles requisitioned by the district administration for the purpose of transporting officials and equipment to various polling stations, which were used for shorter periods of three days or more, has already been settled. However, the payment in question relates to the transportation of security personnel, which comes under the purview of the SP, with their services rendered for periods ranging from one to three months.

Mokokchung Times