Illegal extortion by HNLC will not be tolerated: Meghalaya CM

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMarch 6, 2024

Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Wednesday said his government is very clear that no illegal activity in this form (extortion) will be tolerated.

Speaking to reporters, Sangma said, “Hence, when this issue had come up to us, we had a very prompt meeting few weeks (ago) – I will not give details as it was a closed door meeting – and we had given instruction to the police to go ahead and do what it takes to ensure that this kind of activities don’t take place.”

He said, “And based on that, the police have done its duty. They are moving forward and you will see that the extortion cases which were there in the past it is coming down even the people will tell you. Of course there is so much work to be done but full efforts are on.”

“We are now on the job and we will ensure that this thing (extortion) is completely stopped and none of our citizens should be affected by this,” he added.

Recently, HNLC’s PSO Storgy Lyngdoh was arrested from Shillong and from his mobile phone, police found that lots of extortion demands were made on a lot of people.

Asked, the chief minister said, “Of course, we have made it very clear to the HNLC in multiple discussions through our interlocutors at that point in time that if there are serious about the talks then all these other activities should stop because there were certain things that are happening earlier also I don’t want to go into details but you are very correct we have already discussed with them in the past also and now also we reiterate that while we are working and moving towards peace talks and making efforts from all angles these kinds of activities must stop.”

In regards to the regrouping of the disbanded GNLA in Garo Hills, the chief minister said three people have been arrested and police on the lookout for another three more, which we are very sure we will be able to catch them.