From our Staff Correspondent

SHILLONG, July 9: Five members of the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) were arrested for extortion and intimidation from Trongpleng village of East Khasi Hills district on Monday.

Acting on specific information, the sub-divisional police officer of Sohra, Ian O Swer, ordered his men from Mawsynram Police Station and Dangar outpost to go to the site of the crime and detected the alleged criminals involved.

The police arrested the five KSU activists and charged them under sections 384 and 506 of the IPC. It’s an open slur on the most powerful students’ body in the State, especially when the five apprehended members admitted of taking the vehicles moving towards the coal rich belts of West Khasi Hills.

“The KSU members were caught red handed while extorting money from the vehicle owners and were immediately picked up,” stated Swer. The arrested members are from the KSU border area unit. The arrested members include president Spainbot Rangdkhew, vice-president Raymond N Syiem and executive members namely Albert Kharbani, Danny Suba and David Wanniang.

The SDPO told newsmen that there were numerous complaints of extortion. “When we meticulously planned to act, we discovered that the youths belong to the KSU,” stated Swer.

Swer further said, “We have arrested them and they identified themselves as KSU members.” An amount of Rs 3,500 was also recovered from their possession.

Meanwhile, president of the KSU Daniel Khriem told The Sentinel that the union members were made to be extortionists because they were checking the work permits of the outside labourers heading towards the limestone and coal mines.

“There were reports of alleged extortion by some other people and our boys were victimized just at a time when they were doing the checking,” stated Khyriem, adding, “The local unit had even received the official sanction of the officer from the local police station to carry the exercise.”