Extortion notices served to government employees, admit police

OUR STAFF CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG, March 14: The Meghalaya Police have admitted that the demand notes were served by the ASAK to the government employees and businessmen in Bagmahra and other adjoining areas under South Garo Hills district. The Sentinel unveiled that the extortion drive was carried out by ASAK, a breakaway group of the proscribed Garo tiol Liberation Army (GNLA).

The latest about the militant extortion notices have even reached the second tier rank district magistrates and other officers of South Garo Hills, revealed a source, besides informing that the amount explicated asked for varied from Rs 4- 10 lakh.   

A senior police official at the State Police headquarters conceded that the report is true; even as he listed the GNLA as another player in the extortion game in the most backward district headquarters in the State.

“We have ascertain the reports of extortion notices being served through SMS and hard copies in the garb of seeking dotions from government employees,” stated the Police official while confirming that the reports clearly pointed out to be the handiwork of ASAK and the GNLA.

Some of those purported victims have even gone on leave while the others continue to live and serve with anxiety.

A senior police official who virtually confirmed the extortion SMSs received by government employees and others was specifically by this correspondent on how will the police deal with the situation He said, “We have activated our cells to deal with the extortion notices, but the hindrance lies in the hesitancy of the victim(s) to directly report to us”.

Not denying the extortion messages sent by the militant groups through unknown numbers, the Police however called on the victims to come forward with a complaint. “Let them come to us discreetly. Their mes and safety will be assured,” a senior District Police official stated, even as he pointed the little tit bits from the victims will eble the police force to nip the mece into the bud.

There were reports that the members of the disbanded ANVC and ANVC-B could have possibly joined the two operating outfits. The Police said that they are looking at that angle. The leader of the disbanded ANVC  Decrose Sangma negated the notion. All the members of our disbanded group are in tact, said during a telephonic talk. The leaders of the dissolved ANVC(B) cold not be contacted till filing of this report.