Police collects 'safety tax' along Imphal-Ukhrul road
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Pamreiso Shimray

Ukhrul, May 27 2012: In an act that could be termed as extortion by law enforcement agencies, Lamlai police posted at the tri-junction of Napetpali along the Imphal-Ukhrul road is resorting to demand "safety tax" from various vehicles with the collection mostly happening during the night hours.

Informing this correspondent, many aggrieved drivers and vehicle owners informed that "the illegal collection at night hours" is a recent happening and they have not experienced such police action in the past.

"In the name of ensuring safety to the vehicles at night, the police use to collect even upto Rs.100 per vehicle," said an aggrieved driver, on condition of anonymity.

The latest incident was also reported on Saturday night on a vehicle ferrying stranded students from Ukhrul to Imphal.

"The police on night duty demanded Rs.200...the driver negotiated and had to shell out Rs.100," informed Ayo Shimray, one of the students in the vehicle.

In fact, the vehicle was transporting the students who were to catch a morning flight to Mumbai on Sunday and started off late evening after getting permission from bandh enforcers.

Is the unwarranted action being meted out only to vehicles coming from Ukhrul? .

The aggrieved public have began to raise this question and are perplexed with the way the police resorting to "safety tax," which is hitherto unheard of.

Incidentally, this reporter has experienced the "safety tax" being collected by the Lamlai police on the night of May 18 last.

On being asked what for we have to pay, the policeman on duty, who was in inebriated condition, replied "it is to ensure safety to your vehicle at night" .

Comment