Imphal: The National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah), which has been under ceasefire and political negotiation with the Government of India since 1997, is allegedly collecting over Rs 82 lakh every year as illegal tax from oil tankers operating on National Highway-37, the crucial Imphal-Jiribam lifeline.
According to an exclusive report published in Imphal Times today, this amount is only from petroleum tankers. The collection from other goods-carrying trucks and passenger vehicles plying on the same route is extra, which means the total illegal collection on NH-37 could run into several crores.
The Imphal Times investigation was triggered after several drivers travelling the 210-kilometre stretch shared social media posts alleging rampant extortion by armed groups despite moving under security escort.
A tanker driver told Imphal Times, “Even before the Manipur violence erupted, oil tanker vehicles plying on NH-37 were provided security escorts. After the violence, security escorts became mandatory. But when it comes to the payment of unaccounted-for or so-called yearly or daily taxes, the presence of security escorts is of no use.”
Another driver, who did not want to be named, said the closure of NH-2 has made them fully dependent on NH-37. He said, “As we start from Imphal to load petroleum products from Silchar, we pay Rs 20 as an entry fee at the police outpost.”
He further alleged that Rs 500 is paid at Kotlien to cadres identifying as KRA, Rs 500 at Keithelmanbi, and Rs 520 on the onward journey. “On the return journey after loading petroleum products, we pay Rs 5,200 and Rs 500 for the same outfit at Nungba,” he added. According to drivers, a single tanker ends up paying around Rs 4,500 to Rs 8,000 per round trip as illegal tax.
Apart from per-trip extortion, tankers are also forced to pay an annual tax to NSCN-IM. The rate is said to be Rs 8,000 to Rs 15,000 for larger tankers and Rs 10,000 for 12KL tankers and above.
Citing data from the All Manipur Petroleum Products Transporters Association, the report said at least 7 to 10 oil tankers move daily on NH-37 under security cover, with the total number of bullet and oil tankers operating on the route estimated at around 200 plus more than 500 oil tankers.
Based on these figures, Imphal Times calculated that at a minimum rate of Rs 8,000 per vehicle, more than 500 oil tankers alone contribute about Rs 40 lakh a year, and the amount would be higher if Rs 15,000 is taken for larger tankers. Similarly, around 200 bullet tankers would contribute about Rs 30 lakh.
When per-trip collections and annual taxes are combined, the total illegal collection from oil tankers on NH-37 crosses Rs 82 lakh per year, as per figures available with Imphal Times.
The report has raised a larger question: Has the Government of India authorised NSCN-IM to collect such taxes, effectively allowing it to exercise taxation powers as though it were a government?
