Meghalaya ministers, MLAs receive extortion notices from militant group

SHILLONG: Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong on Saturday said several ministers and MLAs in the state have received extortion notices from an outlawed organisation, days after the death of a former militant of the outfit in an encounter with policemen.

An investigation has been initiated by the state police as a number of politicians got text messages on their mobile phones from the militant organisation "demanding Rs 10 lakh and above as income tax", a senior officer said.

Violence had erupted in Mawlai and Jaiaw areas of Shillong following the death of Cheristerfield Thangkhiew, the former self-styled general secretary of the outlawed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC), in an encounter when the police raided his home in the early hours of August 13.

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Thangkhiew, who had surrendered in 2018, was shot dead when he allegedly tried to attack a police team with a knife during the raid in connection with a series of IED blasts in the state.

“We are aware of the fact that ministers and MLAs have received these (extortion notices) and the matter is under investigation? Tynsong told PTI.

The police are probing the case, keeping in mind the safety and security of persons who have got the text messages through SMSes or Whatsapp, he said.

According to reports, not only political leaders but several businessmen have also received messages on their mobile phones from overseas.

The demand was made in the name of income tax to the tune of Rs 10 lakh and above. Several politicians and businessmen have been asked to pay the amount as income tax to the HNLC.

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