Kohima, May 31: In an attempt to run away from responsibilities, political parties have begun a blame game over the unabated extortion by outfits in the state.

However, the militant groups today admitted that rampant collection of so-called taxes is being carried out by unscrupulous elements and deserters.

The members of National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) could not be contacted for their comments. They are allegedly controlling the markets in and around Dimapur, the commercial hub of Nagaland.

The NSCN (Khole-Kitovi) said it was against illegal collections, particularly in Dimapur, and that all efforts would be made to curb it.

“We are against all types of illegal collection,” a senior official of the outfit, C. Singson, told The Telegraph.

The NSCN (Khaplang) said it would not tolerate illegal collection by anyone in the name of the outfit. Secretary of finance Sangso Mongzar said the outfit was determined to curb illegal collection and warned that anyone found collecting in its name would be severely dealt with.

Sangso said there were reports of collection in the name of the NSCN (K) in Kohima and Dimapur by unscrupulous elements and that efforts were on to apprehend them.

While the Congress has blamed the Naga People’s Front (NPF)-led Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) for the current mess in the state where militants and criminals are terrorising the people for the past couple of years, the NPF has blamed the Centre for not being able to resolve the Naga political problem.

Nagaland Congress president S.I. Jamir said in the past 10 years of the NPF-led DAN government, militants and criminals have taken over the affairs of the state and that the state has plunged into chaos. He said the state government has given a free hand to the militants in the state, thereby inflicting suffering on the people.

Jamir said instead of curbing the menace, the state government has remained a mute spectator and left the people to their own fate.

However, the NPF defended the state government by blaming the Centre for not being able to resolve the Naga political problem. It said even 15 years of ceasefire with the militants have not led to settlement of the issue.

The NPF said when ceasefire was signed with the NSCN (I-M), it did not provide sustenance for the militants.

It accused the Centre of not being sympathetic to the Naga people’s desire for permanent peace by keeping a political solution at bay.

The Congress said the extortion issue has to be resolved collectively.