By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Oct 8: The vegetable trader associations have asked the president of United Hynniewtrep Movement (UHM), Charlie Rani, to clarify if he had directed his members to collect money from the trucks carrying vegetables.
The Khasi Jaintia Fresh Vegetables Supplier Association (KJFVSA) and Meghalaya Traders Fresh Vegetables and Ginger Association (MTFV&GA) have asked Rani to visit their office at Umphyrnai in East Khasi Hills on Monday.
The two associations have taken this step after reports of trucks transporting vegetables to Silchar and Mizoram being extorted by members of the UHM Khliehriat unit along the National Highway-6.
Speaking to a section of reporters, KJFVSA working president Henry Dkhar claimed that he had spoken to the members of the UHM, who claimed that they are demanding money from the trucks as per the directive of their president.
It may be mentioned that a telephonic conversation between Dkhar and the UHM members had even gone viral on social media.
“You must have heard in the audio that they (UHM members) have admitted for demanding money from the trucks,” Dkhar said.
According to him, they have decided not to file an FIR since the leaders of UHM had apologised and also agreed to resolve the matter amicably.
KJFVSA working president said that this is the first time that any pressure group has demanded money from trucks carrying vegetables.
Dkhar further claimed that the UHM members were demanding Rs 2,000 from each truck.
He further said that they would ask the trucks to show them the challan which permitted them to transport the vegetables outside the state.
“I am not very sure what kind of challan they are asking. The association is only issuing these trucks only the road or delivery challan,” KJFVSA working president.