Baghmara, Oct 25: First the police was accused of allegedly demanding money from truckers to give passage to commercial vehicles plying through Siju and Rongdik bridge, on the road to Baghmara. Now, a fresh accusation has surfaced about rampant collection of illegal tax by self styled social organizations, right under the nose of police in South Garo Hills district.
On Friday, an FIR was lodged at Nongalbibra police station by a businesswomen who fell victim to illegal tax twice in one week in South Garo Hills. Miss Dexsit M Sangma, daughter of Lakhi G Marak, a resident of Dobakkol, Nengjagittim, South Garo Hills narrated her tale of woe at the hands of extortionists.
Operating a transportation firm that ferries goods from Guwahati to remote Mahadeo region, her vehicle was waylaid by criminals at Panda reserve forest of Baghmara on the 23rd of this month.
“The unknown individuals claiming to be NGO members detained the vehicle, demanded Rs 6000/- and tortured my driver,” stated the victim in her police complaint.
And this was not the first case of the rampant extortion allegedly taking place.
More attacks took place during the first two weeks of October, reveal the victim in her complaint. At the famous Simsang bridge in Baghmara, that leads up to the offices of the deputy commissioner and the district police, extortionists demanded money to the tune of Rs 15,000/- on the 9th and 14th of October. Interestingly, a police nakka checking team is stationed at the bridge 24×7.
“We face extortion twice a week while passing through the national highway from Dainadubi to Moheskola areas, affecting business and forcing farmers to sell products at low prices, indirectly funding extortion,” says the lady victim in her complaint.
Despite having a legal license and paying GST, she said that traders and businessmen are facing difficulties and demanded that legal action ought to be taken against such corrupt practices to eradicate extortion.
ACHIK group writes to Home Minister demanding action
Garo group ACHIK has, in the meantime, written to Meghalaya home minister Prestone Tynsong demanding an independent probe and action against South Garo Hills police personnel who are behind the extortion of money from transporters at Siju police station and Rongdik
bridge.
“According to credible reports from transporters and officials, police have been unlawfully demanding money, and this has been going on for almost a month, causing severe financial strain and disrupting critical work. Even trucks with essential commodities have not been spared,” pointed out ACHIK.
Cautioning that South Garo Hills is fast becoming a den for smuggling and other illegal
activities, the Garo body wants an impartial probe and fixing responsibility on those police officials behind this illegal practice. “The extortion of honest workers and transporters tarnishes the reputation of Meghalaya Police and undermines public trust in law enforcement,” warned the ACHIK organization in their letter to the home minister.
