MDA ally seeks judicial probe into coal truck extortion

TURA: The youth wing of the United Democratic Party, an ally in the MDA government of Conrad Sangma in the state, has demanded that a judicial probe be initiated into reports of widespread extortion carried out on passing coal trucks in North Garo Hills on December 30 night.
The alleged extortion took place at the gates run by the state transport department and the Directorate of Mineral Resources (DMR) located at Dainadubi in North Garo Hills.
Huge sums of money, reportedly Rs 26,000, were extorted from each coal-laden truck which was passing through the gates on that night. As many as 250 trucks, carrying coal auctioned in Garo Hills, passed through these gates on that night.
“It is shocking that such brazen illegal collection took place in front of two government established points. It is a clear case of criminal incident and laws are being subverted by those in power,” alleged UDP youth wing president of Garo Hills, Anand Marak.
The youth wing has expressed disappointment with the decision of the North Garo Hills district administration to order a magisterial inquiry. “This magisterial probe will not serve any purpose because on the night of the incident there were two magistrates on duty at the site but they were unable to prevent the widespread extortion. The need of the hour is a judicial probe,” demanded the UDP youth wing president.
Sitting legislator from Mendipathar under whose constituency falls the Dainadubi gates, Marthon Sangma of the Congress has also raised strong opposition to the incident demanding stern action against the groups involved in the robbery.
The district administration has imposed section 144 CrPC and started an investigation into the incident.
It was alleged that civilians with the backing of a certain politician were involved in extortion.
Police sources informed on Monday that the inquiry into the incident is being conducted by the District administration along with the concerned departments – the DMR and Transport.
Sources further said section 144 CrPC has been imposed as a precaution to prevent trouble.
Earlier, allegations of civilians taking over the DMR and transports check gates and illegally collecting money from coal trucks arose and certain individuals including a former MCS Officer were named to be involved in the act. After the incident was reported, FIRs were filed at the Dainadubi police outpost.
As per the allegations, a whopping Rs 58 lakh (Rs 26,000 per truck) were collected during the illegal drive. It was also alleged that while officials of the DMR and Transport were present during the collection, the whole amount was taken away by the civilians themselves.