The Kiphire District Commercial Vehicle Union has submitted a formal complaint to the Deputy Commissioner of Kiphire, highlighting the unauthorized taxation and harassment faced by truck drivers and handymen while transporting goods from Dimapur to Kiphire. The union claimed that these issues were becoming a significant burden, not only on their operations but also on the overall economy of the district.
In a letter addressed to the Deputy Commissioner, the union outlined the various unauthorized taxes that their drivers face, particularly at checkpoints along the route, such as Jessami in the Ukhrul district of Manipur. These include: Manipur Police: Rs 300, Excise gate: 200 to 500, Forest gate (for trucks carrying sand): 200, NPG (Naga Political Group): Rs 500, and NPG Town Command: 100 to 200 (sometimes).
Additionally, at the Lanye Bridge check gate in Nagaland, police personnel reportedly charge Rs500 under the pretext of missing or invalid truck documents.
The letter also mentioned that when trucks are transporting backloads from Kiphire to Dimapur, they are subjected to even higher charges, including: NPG after negotiation: Rs 1,000-2,000, Manipur Police: Rs 1,000-1,500 and Forest/Excise Gate: Rs 2,000.
The union expressed concern that these unauthorized taxes, combined with document checks at the Lanye Bridge, have created an “intolerable burden” on drivers who already face long and challenging journeys between Dimapur and Kiphire. They further highlighted the impact of these issues on the overall cost of goods and services in Kiphire, one of the farthest districts from Dimapur.
The union has urged the Deputy Commissioner to take immediate action, requesting that he intimate the Ukrul District authorities about the unauthorized taxation at Jessami; Communicate with the Phek District authorities to address the issue of document harassment at Lanye Check gate; Take appropriate legal and administrative actions to eliminate these unauthorized taxes and create a fair transportation environment.
“We believe that your intervention is crucial in mitigating these grievances and ensuring a just and equitable transportation system for Kiphire District,” it added.