TURA, Jan 6: Miscreants in North Garo Hills, including leaders of the Garoland State Movement Committee (GSMC), on Wednesday allegedly made an extortion bid at a fuel station in Mendipathar, assaulted the staff there and shut down its operations.
The incident took place at Super Energy Point gas station belonging to proprietor, Prakash Ch Momin, at around 4 pm.
According to a complaint registered in this regard, three vehicles — a black Scorpio (AR-01DA 4889), an Alto car (ML-08A 1456) and a Wagon R vehicle — together with several bikes arrived at the station, accusing the operators of indulging in illegal activities by way of selling adulterated and less amount of fuel to customers.
Two of them introduced themselves as Balkarin Marak (co-chairman of GSMC) and Ryan Ch Marak, and were accompanied by a large group that included three men from Assam, one of whom identified himself as Trelen Deka.
It may be mentioned that Deka was arrested a few years back in Tura for impersonating as an oil company representative and demanding huge sums of money from the SC Das petrol station below Hawakahana.
Despite finding the delivery and dispensation in five-litre gallons to be correct during the “inspection”, the men accused them of fraud and threatened to upload on social media the pictures and videos of the station.
According to the complaint, ehen the pump attendants suggested the group that they contact the supply and legal metrology department for authentication, they got agitated and tried to assault the fuel attendants, forcing them to flee.
“They snatched the keys of the petrol pump and demanded Rs 20 lakh. When my staff refused to give such a huge amount they asked for two lakh rupees. But since the money was not available with the staff, they forcefully took full tanks of fuel for all their vehicles and bikes and closed down the station,” the police complaint informed.
Meanwhile, with the swift action of North Garo Hills police, some of the perpetrators involved in the incident were successfully nabbed.
“As soon as we got information about the incident taking place, our police teams from Mendipathar station rushed to the site. We gave chase and managed to seize the Scorpio and a bike, besides the arrest of four of the accused,” informed North Garo Hills Superintendent of Police (SP), Abraham T Sangma.
However, GSMC leader Balkarin Marak along with Trelen Deka, Ryan Ch Marak, and a former GNLA militant, who has served some time in jail, Rahul Marak — all part of the group — are currently absconding.