The Mokokchung District Truck Owners Association (MDTOA) has expressed shock over the seizure of a huge consignment of illegal from Mokokchung bound truck on April 3, 2025. The truck in question, an LP Truck bearing registration number NL 02 Q 6311 is registered under (MDTOA) where the owner Mohan Ram Bhadu is a member of the association, claimed the Association. The member owns a number of trucks and two hardware stores in Arkong ward (Anuradha Hardware) and one in Alichen Ungma (Matsung hardware).
As such, the MOTOA has strongly condemned the smuggling of contraband liquor on a MDTOA registered truck and censured the association member Mohan Ram Bhadu for his complicity in the crime.
“The very fact that his truck driver, (Dev Raj) and salesmam (Mahesh Siyag) was arrested by police red handed point to a sinister news of smuggling liquor all under the guise of running a legitimate business. The MDTOA had been receiving complaints from different quarters about charging truck fares below MDTOA given rates and also selling hardware items drastically way below market rates. This predatory pricing which is prohibited under Section 4(2) (a) (ii) of the Competition Act 2002. It is obvious that this sly play to dominate competitors by drastically selling goods and services below market rates was instead boasted in the bottom line by the huge illegal profits made from transport and sale of banned IMFL,” stated the Association. In this regard, the MDTOA has asserted that the concern authorities thoroughly investigate into his illigal activities.
The Association assured that action will be taken against the defaulting members, to prevent the repetition of such act in the future. It also appreciated the Mokokchung Police for their vigil and seizing the contraband. “The association also urges the concern authorities to give fair judgement to this serious matter so that Mokokching district would remain as a fair transparent and prosperous market in the future,” stated the MDTOA.
Drawing attention to the report on the seizure of illicit liquor, the Mokokchung Chamber of Commerce & Industry (MCCI) has urged the concerned authorities to consider the issues raised by the MDTOA and conduct a thorough investigation and clarify all doubts, so that justice prevails and the matter is brought to its logical conclusion.
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Meanwhile, the Mokokchung Town Lanur Telongjem (MTLT) expressed alarm on the reported market manipulation by the businessman who owns multiple business enterprises while at the same time engaging in illegal liquor smuggling in the town.
“What has caught the attention of the MTLT is the fact that the businessman in question was engaging in market price manipulation as articulated by the Mokokchung Truck Owners Association (MDTOA) and published in certain section of the local dailies. The MDOTA had disclosed that Mohan Ram Bhadu, a registered MDTOA member, had been rigging truck fares and selling hardware items at prices lower than the market rates thereby adversely affecting the local economy. It is reliably learnt that Mr. Bhadu had been practicing ‘predatory pricing’ – an illegal act prohibited under 4(2)(a)(ii) of the Competition Act, 2002 – where he would sell the legitimate hardware materials at a lower rate while recovering the losses through the huge profits in illegal bootlegging business,” claimed the MTLT.
Under such incriminating circumstances, the MTLT strongly condemned the practices of businessman Bhadu.
“The MTLT, as one of the proactive stakeholders of Mokokchung society, has been encouraging a vibrant local economy based on fair and healthy competition by both the local and non-local business owners. Thus far, it was felt that the Mokokchung town economy, despite the many hurdles and challenges, was moving in the right direction and showing significant progress. However, the actions of Mr. Bhadu clearly undermine the existence of a fair market and he should be censured by all. Cheating in business matters has long term ramifications and the MTLT shall not tolerate any form of market manipulation,” stated the MTLT.
While deeply appreciating the Mokokchung Police for seizing the contraband goods, it urged the law enforcing agencies to take necessary actions as per the law. The Telongjem also urged the Public Prosecutor to investigate whether the businessman in question, Bhadu, has violated the Indian law under Section 4(2)(a)(ii) of the Competition Act, 2002 and press charge if found to have violated the Law.
The MTLT further urged the Mokokchung Municipal Council to conduct their own inquiry and assess how much damage had been caused by the nefarious actions of Bhadu.
“If found culpable of an illegal act, the MMC should immediately revoke his trade license and even pursue legal prosecution under relevant section of the law. Besides, the MTLT sincerely appeal the Mokokchung Chambers of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), the biggest stakeholder in Mokokchung economy, to check such actions that are detrimental to the growth of our town. Moreover, the MTLT deeply feels that Mr. Bhadu’s nefarious activities were facilitated by the half-dead Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition (NLTP) Act which allowed him to earn huge profits from his bootlegging business and recover the apparent losses in his legitimate hardware business. Therefore, it is high time for the public of Mokokchung to open their eyes and seriously ponder whether the NLTP Act needs a serious review by the State government given the fact that bootlegging is a crime that could not be checked in our State despite all efforts. The more worrying question is whether bootlegging due to the NLTP Act which directly or indirectly encouraging business malpractices as highlighted by the actions of Mr. Bhadu,” expressed the Telongjem.
It stated that It would be closely monitoring the case and the local economy, maintaining that “nefarious action detrimental to public wellbeing and wealth shall not be tolerated.”
