Simaluguri businessmen stage protest against frequent extortion

FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT

SIVASAGAR, September 6: Some organizations labeling themselves as ‘tiolist organizations’ have been allegedly making extortion demands and hampering normal life and developmental activities in the district and State as well.

Yet another incident of monetary demand made business establishments close down as a mark of protest in Simaluguri under zira subdivision in Sivasagar district. Simaluguri businessman put their shutters down on Saturday protesting against frequent extortion demands made by some leaders of so-called ‘tiolist organizations’. They said that extortion activities had severely affected trade and business in the zira subdivision.

Hotel businessmen of Simaluguri shut down their business establishments after some so-called leaders of an organization allegedly physically assaulted one businessman who runs a hotel when he refused to give the money they had demanded.

According to hotel businessmen of that area, leaders of some organizations do not even pay their bills after eating sweets and tea from their hotels and threaten them all the time if the businessmen do not give the money demanded.

“We can’t live in peace. All the hotels have been shut down in protest. We are suffering immensely at their hands. Living a normal life is difficult for us,” said a hotelier on the condition of anonymity.

Another businessman said, “Many organizations are troubling us with monetary demands. We earn just enough to make both ends meet. We don’t have extra money that we can give to them.”

The market place wore a deserted look as shops and business centres, basically hotels remained closed.

Although such incidents are occurring in a regular basis, the civil and police administration are playing the role of mute spectators.