Extortion by NSCN(I-M) affecting Indo-Myanmar border trade

MOREH (Manipur), May 10 ? Indo-Myanmar border trade in this border town in Chandel district was severely affected due to non-plying of vehicles between Imphal and this border town following demand for ?heavy tax? from vehicle owners by underground NSCN(I-M), reports PTI. Sources in the police and Vehicle Owner?s Association said they would not ply vehicles unless adequate security arrangements were made by the State authorities. The NSCN(I-M) had served notices to all owners of vehicles plying along Imphal-Moreh National Highway No. 39 that unless tax was paid by them, they would not be allowed to ply along the national highway, association sources said. They said the tax ranged between Rs 1700 to Rs 900 per trip and added that more than 200 vehicles were plying daily between Imphal-Moreh and Moreh-Imphal carrying traded items. Market sources said goods and items worth several crores of rupees were transacted daily at Moreh and its adjoining Myanmar town, Namphallong. Association sources said NSCN(I-M) demand notices served to vehicle owners had said the tax for every trip should be deposited at the Manipur forest office at Pallel, nearby Border Security Force headquarters in Chandel district. When contacted officials at the forest office at Pallel, about 40 kms south-east of here, said they had no knowledge of NSCN(I-M)?s tax collection demand. Senior district police officials confirmed the NSCN(I-M) notices being received by the vehicle owners and their association and added that they were looking into the matter. In Imphal, the joint action committee of Imphal Road Transporters said no vehicle would ply between the State capital and border town of Moreh unless the State Government intervened in the matter. Ng Haridas Singh, president of the committee formed by five Vehicles Owner?s Associations, said not only the NSCN(I-M) but also some State Government offices including Excise Department and Moreh based Hill Tribal Council, were collecting ?illegal taxes? from every vehicle without issuing any proper receipt. Singh told reporters here that if the issue was not settled by the government, the committee would also stop plying vehicles between Imphal and Chandel, district headquarters of Chandel district bordering Myanmar. Moreh is under Chandel district.