Govt taking steps to end HNLC extortion activities from ministers, MLAs

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaAugust 20, 2021

Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Friday admitted that cabinet ministers and legislators of the state have been served with demand notes by the banned Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) as he assured that steps are being taken to stop the extortion racket of the outfit.

“Yes, ministers and MLAs also had received this (demand notes) and investigations…through which they had received this and other inputs from them have already been collected,” Conrad told reporters.

He was reacting to the statement made by the Leader of Opposition Mukul Sangma that legislators including ministers have been served with demand notes while expressing concern over the prevailing law and order situation in the state.

Terming it as an extortion racket of the outfit, the Chief Minister said, “Whether it is SMSes received from political leaders, businessmen, from individuals, from common people – all these messages that have come in terms of extortion – has led to us as a government and more importantly the police department doing a large amount of investigation.”

He further added that investigation is also done in a lot of detailed movement of individuals.

“But I will be risking the investigation at this point in time (as it is not proper for me to reveal many proofs). I can just tell you and give an assurance to everybody that a large amount of work is being done and a lot of steps have been taken by the police department to ensure this (extortion activities) comes to stop,” Conrad stated.

On the other hand, the Chief Minister said that one cannot conclude that the recent law and order situation is giving life to the HNLC. “I am not saying there is no issue, there are issues and we are working to resolve them,” he stated.