Considering the NSCN (IM)’s silence to their appeal to lift the ban on closure of shops in and around Dimapur on Sundays, six Dimapur-based organisations on Wednesday directed all the businesses dealing with perishable items, groceries, confectioneries, medicine, hotels, restaurants and travel agencies to start opening their establishments within Dimapur municipal area and East Dimapur jurisdiction starting from March 17.
In a joint release, the Naga Council Dimapur, GB Union Dimapur, Dimapur Urban Colony Chairman Federation, Naga Women Hoho Dimapur, Dimapur Chamber of Commerce and Industry and East Dimapur Business Association said they had, in good faith, appealed to the NSCN (IM) to lift the ban imposed by it on Sunday on those businesses dealing with daily essential items.
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Since there has been no response from the NSCN (IM), it has been positively considered as approved, the release said.
The six organisations also warned that any shop or business establishment not following the directive will be severely penalised by the respective organisations within their jurisdiction.
They further appealed to the NSCN (IM) leadership to issue proper directives and order about their decision to its rank and file.
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The NGOs also cautioned the business community to be vigilant as some unscrupulous elements may take undue advantage of the confusion of Sunday closure and dupe them as fees or tax to open shops on Sunday but to report about such incident to the appropriate authority immediately.
They further demanded that the district administration and the police deploy adequate security personnel both in uniform and civvies in those areas where shops will open to prevent “unwarranted harassment”.
The NGOs in their appeal to the NSCN (IM) earlier said the closure imposed on all shops on Sunday could have been a spiritual approach with Nagaland being a Christian state but exemption of pharmaceutical shops, restaurants, eateries, bakeries must be humanely considered.