ASAK demand for Rs 27 cr
SHILLONG: Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma said that his Government was committed to provide protection to the Hyderabad-based road construction company after Achick Songa An’pachakgipa Kotok (ASAK) militant outfit served demand note for Rs 27 crore.
“We had always urged the companies or firms to lodge complaint with police and in this case, the firm has made a complaint,” Chief Minister told this reporter.
He added that necessary protection would be given to the firm to ensure that the work is not hampered. The company is engaged in the construction of 264.30 kilometer two lane road connecting West Khasi Hills directly to Tura at the cost of Rs 1,494 crore.
ASAK, the breakaway group of GNLA, had demanded Rs 27 crore from seven staff of the construction company. Separate demand notes were issued to the staff ranging from Rs 1 crore to Rs 5 crore. As per the complaint lodged by Nagraj Shet, the Project Manager of BSC C&C JV at Williamnagar police station on May 31 evening, two persons who came in a motorcycle, served demand notes in the name of ASAK. In 2012, three engineers of the company were abducted by rebels. Though the police had initially blamed GNLA for the abduction, the police changed the version and said that it was the handiwork of ANVC-B. The engineers were released after paying ransom. The project which began in 2011 focuses on two-lanning of Nongstoin to Shillong section of NH-44 and Nongstoin- Rongjeng- Tura road under phase A of Special Accelerated Road Development Programme in North East (SARDP-NE)sanctioned by the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.