Nagaland, Manipur bound goods-laden trucks ‘detained’

DIMAPUR, JUNE 24 ( Morung Express): Around 100 goods-laden trucks have been stranded at Bokajan in neighbouring Karbi Anglong district, Assam, for the last couple of days due to alleged harassment by the Sales Tax department officials posted at Bokajan.

Trucks coming from metros like Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai carrying essential commodities and bound for Nagaland and Manipur were being detained at Bokajan gate by Sales Tax officials who are allegedly demanding the drivers to produce the Nagaland VAT form for vehicles entering Nagaland and Manipur VAT form for Manipur bound vehicles.

According to the truckers, despite having all other necessary permits, the trucks were not allowed to pass without the VAT forms. A trucker said that it was not the duty of sales tax officials of a state to demand VAT forms of another state and added that truckers had never faced such situations while crossing other states.
It is reported that trucks not having forms of their respective states were allowed to pass Bokajan check point only after payment of money ranging from Rs. 3,000-10,000 per truck.

Sources said that the general public of both Nagaland and Manipur states are facing shortage of essential commodities as the trucks do not reach their destination on time. Many perishable items also go waste due to “unnecessary” detention of vehicles, sources added.
Meanwhile, when contacted over phone, an official of the sales tax at Bokajan flatly denied that the department was demanding money from the truckers. Further clarification could not be sought due to bad network.