Itanagar, Mar 4: Founder of Arunachal Civil Society (ACS) and a prominent social activist Patey Tayum, on Tuesday strongly condemned a letter allegedly issued by the Government of the People’s Republic of Nagaland GPRN-NSCN(K) to the government officers of Tirap, Changlang and Longding districts of the state.
The letter, purportedly signed by Khampai Wangsu, incharge of Longding district of the banned outfit, demands a 5 per cent annual tax from all government departments in the district.
Expressing deep concern over such extortion attempts, Tayum highlighted that government officers in the TCL region are already dedicated to public welfare. He stressed that these illegal demands not only demoralize officials but also harm society as a whole.
“As a responsible citizen of the state, I appeal to the state government to take immediate steps to end this tax culture. Our Chief Minister, Pema Khandu, being well-educated and experienced, must take strong action against such illegal activities,” Tayum stated.
According to reliable sources, underground elements have been involved in extorting money from poor farmers, local businesses, and government officials. Despite the state government’s efforts, such as the creation of a separate department for the development of TCL (DoTCL) and special job exemptions for the region’s youth, interference by anti-social groups has hindered progress.
“As a social activist, I firmly believe that paying such illegal taxes (extortion) only encourages underground elements to meddle further in state affairs, making it an easy source of income for them,” he added.
Tayum also urged underground groups operating from outside the state to refrain from such activities, warning that local anti-social elements might misuse their name to carry out extortion within the state.
He called upon the government and security agencies to take strict action to ensure peace and development in the TCL region, free from illegal taxation and external interference.
