Nongpoh, Aug 20: Police have arrested five leaders of the Hynñiewtrep National Youth Movement (HNYM) on charges of extortion from tourist taxis.
The five arrested individuals are HNYM Chairman of the Anti-Influx Cell Sparly Syngkli, President Nongpoh Circle Donboklang Kharbani, Working President Aiborlang Marbaniang and two members Krius Pariong and Ricky Tangsang.
Authorities said the pressure group who claimed to conduct a check against influx of outsiders were demanding money from drivers of tourist taxis ferrying passengers from outside the state.
An FIR was lodged by two tourist taxi drivers against the pressure group at Nongpoh police station who said that the HNYM under the leadership of Syngkli demanded money ranging from Rs. 3,000 to Rs. 6,500 from each tourist taxi.
All the arrested persons have been produced before the District Court today for further proceedings.
This is not the first time that members of the HNYM were accused of extortion. In September, 2024 four of its members were arrested over a bid to extort Rs 10 lakh from a man in Shillong.
