By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Dec 6: The state government on Wednesday announced that it had given superintendents of police and deputy commissioners of all districts instructions to handle unlawful collections from shop owners or business establishments under the pretence of donations.
“We have given the district administration instructions because they are solely responsible for this. The DCs and SPs must handle this, and I am confident that official notice has been sent out stating that it is unlawful,” Deputy Chief Minister and minister in charge of Home (Police), Prestone Tynsong said.
He made it plain that until and unless the DC grants prior permission, neither an individual nor a group may continue to collect money under the guise of donations.
Shopkeepers in many parts of the state were slapped with demand notes for ‘donations’ by NGOs and sundry groups, most of them unheard of.
Pleading anonymity, some shopkeepers had recently told The Shillong Times that they receive at least three such demand notes a month. The demand for donations increases during festive seasons.
During the autumn session of the Assembly, Nongkrem MLA and VPP president, Ardent M Basaiawmoit had demanded exemplary action against “extortion” which raises the cost of basic goods in the state.
According to Basaiawmoit the prices of essential commodities are increasing almost every day and this is due to the “extortions” taking place in the state as the businessmen in order to recover their money have to increase the price of their commodities.
