Photo Courtesy: nenow
Kohima: A battle over Sunday operations is erupting in Dimapur. Armed national groups are ordering businesses to shutter on the holy day, exempting only pharmacies. This power grab has triggered outrage from the local business community, who question the silence of the state government. They rightfully ask who actually runs the state.
These closures threaten public life. Many people rely on Sundays to rest, manage chores, or socialize at cafes and restaurants. Essential workers, including medical staff and police, cannot stop for the day. Meanwhile, the state’s inaction allows non-state actors to usurp the power of local municipal bodies. Some observers describe the local population as "Sunday Christians," arguing that self-righteous leaders use the Bible and the gun to enforce control.
Economic reality eventually forced a compromise. Pharmacies, bakeries, and restaurants can now open after 12 noon. The Dimapur Municipal Council finally issued an order confirming these rights, and the state government later clarified that it never mandated any Sunday closures. Dimapurians have long looked toward nearby Assam to shop for food and liquor when local markets are forced shut. These mandates are likely less about faith and more about asserting jurisdictional dominance. Economic control has been a priority for these groups since the 1990s. In the struggle between religious dogma and daily survival, the need to keep the local economy moving ultimately won the day.
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