ers in Borsora and Nongjri areas in South West Khasi Hills District are concerned over the activities of dreaded militants from Garo Hills and Assam which are demanding money ranging from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 20 lakh.
According to a coal trader who received a demand note of Rs 10 lakh from the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA), it is not only the GNLA that is working together with the ULFA and are demanding money from the traders in the area but the ANVC (B) is also operating and competing with the said militants outfits.
In a letter sent by the GNLA to the trader, the militants warned him to ‘cooperate without failure’ and warned that any ‘thoughtless act’ (by the trader) would lead to serious consequences as ‘actions’ will be taken according to their (GNLA) law.
The trader said that he and his colleagues have not approached the police for assistance as this would cause ‘more harm than good’ and now some of them have already engaged in a dialogue with the militants to pay the money.
“We are afraid to inform the police because they cannot protect us 24×7 so some of my colleagues are now engaged in a dialogue with the militants to pay the money, to ensure that our lives are safe and we can continue our business,” the trader said.
Speaking to The Shillong Times on the issue, a police official from South West Khasi Hills District urged the traders to come forward and lodge complaint or inform the police confidentially so that they can neutralise the armed outfits.
“Unless the traders inform us it will be difficult for the police to check extortion,” the official said, adding that cooperation from the traders would help the police a lot.
Speaking about the incident on Friday in which two Border Security Forces (BSF) jawans were shot dead by armed militants along the Indo-Bangla international border near Borsora, the police official said that it is the ANVC (B) who are behind the incident as all evidence points towards their involvement.
