Arunachal traders protest against extortion

 ITANAGAR, feb 1 – In a bid to protest the repeated demand notes being served on the traders allegedly by different covert and overt organisations, the trading community of the State capital and its adjoining areas such as Nirjuli and Banderdewa on Thursday downed their shutters for more than four hours.

The traders resolved to move the police against any bid to extortion, and to bring such cases to the notice of the district authorities for taking measures to contain the menace.

Time and again, the traders, especially non-tribals, are at the receiving end of bandh calls, donation and extortion notes, and threats of dire consequences if they fail to meet the demands of such organisations.

The businessmen are the worst victims during any bandh call as they not only lose business but have also to meet the demands of the bandh sponsors, said Arunachal Chamber of Commerce & Industries (ACCI), the apex organization of traders of the capital complex.

Downing their shutters, the traders, under the banner of ACCI and Bazar Welfare Committees of Itanagar, Naharlagun, Nirjuli and Banderdewa, have unanimously decided to stand united to bring an end to such activities.

Although the local administration of Papum Pare district, had already banned the collection of donations on occasions more than once, it has no impact at all, as various groups and organizations were targeting the individual traders in groups and threatening them of dire consequences. Some organizations threatened a few of the traders to even pack up in case of failure to meet their ransom, said the ACCI president Techi Lala and general secretary Tarh Nachung, in a joint press statement here.