Ilam, November 3:

Traders in Ilam district are suffering due to triple taxes levied by the district development committee (DDC), pro-Maoist Young Communist League and Federal Limbuwan Rajya Parishad (FLRP).

While taxes levied by DDC are legitimate, YCL has horned in on the act since a month claiming that it needs money for the establishment of republic. Likewise the FLRP claims that it needs funds to fight for the establishment of a Limbuwan autonomous state.

The two organisations are levying extra-constitutional taxes on ginger, cardamom, timber and other items. The YCL is charging Rs 50 per sack of ginger and cardamom and Rs 1500 per truck-load of timber while the FLRP is charging Rs 100 per sack of ginger and cardamom, said traders.

Traders said that they are already paying Rs 14 per sack of ginger, Rs 40 per sack of cardamom and Rs 200 per truck-load of timber to the DDC. However, officials at the DDC said they were ignorant of the threefold tax burden.

A couple of months ago, Maoists had — setting up a checkpoint — levied taxes in Ilam district for a whole month. Later, when the traders raised a hue and cry the Maoists had to abandon the exercise.

Meanwhile, traders said that FLRP cadres are extorting money on a regular basis from taxis and buses at different places on the Mechi Highway. “Parishad cadres are extorting money from buses and taxis for the last three months in Ilam district and bordering Ranke Bazaar of Panchthar district. The extortion racket has spread to other places also,” a transport entrepreneur said.

Both the YCL and the FLRP are extorting money from traders, office-workers, teachers, public, various organisations and farmers.

The victims said that they were demand ‘donation’ at the range of Rs 5,000 to Rs 5,00,000.