TURA: Shops selling alcohol in Williamnagar town were closed down indefinitely on Saturday afternoon reportedly because they had failed to pay ‘tax’ to a militant outfit.
Close to a dozen wine stores in the heart of East Garo Hills district headquarters, Williamnagar, abruptly downed their shutters on Saturday following the diktat. Some of the owners while speaking on condition of anonymity said that they were asked to close down for non-compliance with the demands of militants to pay extortion.
“We have received reports that the GNLA outfit had demanded a hefty sum of money from the wine store owners as tax and their inability to pay has angered the group that ordered them to close shop,” said police sources.
Demands to pay extortion money has apparently not just been limited to the GNLA as other smaller outfits and petty criminals have also joined the rat race to make a quick buck in the run up to the festive season.
There are as many as nineteen wine stores in the heart of Williamnagar town that sell Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) brands.