Ginger farmers accuse Excise, Police
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 23 2014 :
The All Manipur Ginger Farmers' Association has accused police as well as Excise personnel of collecting illegal taxes from ginger farmers and traders forcibly.
Speaking to media persons at Thangal Keithel today, the association's spokesman Md Abdul Kalam said that police personnel collected money from two mini-trucks which were transporting ginger from Churachandpur to Imphal yesterday.
In the same manner, both police and excise personnel have been taxing ginger farmers and traders between Mao and Imphal.
Two mini-trucks were transporting 75 bags each of ginger from Churachandpur to Imphal when they were halted by a police team at Pao Lamkhai near Kwakta.
There the police team charged and took away Rs 500 for no reason.
The next stop was at Moirang Lamkhai.
There another police team took Rs 300.At Moirang Police Station, the ginger farmers cum traders were forced to pay Rs 500 .
This was not the end.
The farmers had to pay Rs 400 at Phubala, Rs 300 at Ningthoukhong and another Rs 150 to a team of Bishnupur district commando, Abdul Kalam said.
Asking if ginger trade is illegal, the spokesman questioned why the Government is overlooking illegal taxes collected by its agencies which only went to individual pockets without ever reaching the State exchequer.
Transportation of ginger between Imphal and Mao is almost impossible without paying substantial amounts of money to different police stations and outposts for every trip.
According to Abdul Kalam, ginger farmers/traders are forced to pay Rs 1500 at Sekmai PS, Rs 1200 at Motbung police outpost, Rs 1500 at Sapermeina police station, Rs 1400 at Kangpokpi PS, Rs 1600 at Senapati PS, Rs 1400 at Tadubi PS and another Rs 1500 at Mao PS.
It is not only police stations, excise stations located along the highway section have also been taxing ginger traders/farmers.
They have been paying Rs 500 at Koirengei Excise post, Rs 800 at Sekmai, Rs 700 at Sapermeina, Rs 500 at Kangpokpi, Rs 700 at Senapati, Rs 700 at Lairou and Rs 700 at Tadubi much against their will.
The association has been collecting ginger from different parts of the State and is sending ginger consignments outside the State in order to promote ginger farmers as well as ginger traders of the State.
Last year too, collection of illegal taxes by State agencies from ginger traders was published in media.
But the media report was effective for too short a period as police and excise personnel started collecting 'taxes' only after a brief gap, Abdul Kalam decried.
He also demanded immediate attention of all relevant Government authorities on the matter.