Four people have been arrested by police in East Jaiñtia Hills over an attempt to extort money out of an individual, it was informed today.
The leader among them had been arrested in connection with the improvised explosive device (IED) blast at Khliehriat police reserve in 2021 but had subsequently been released by the court. Another two of those nabbed are juveniles.
Police said that on August 19, credible information was received that a resident under Lumshnong police station had received phone calls from an unknown person who threatened his life unless he paid the caller money.
Two days later, two suspects boarded the victim’s vehicle while parked at Dosti Hotel in Ladrymbai. Police, who were following the victim, sensed that a cognisable crime was being committed and leapt into action to arrest the duo.
Upon preliminary investigation, the two revealed that they were collecting money on behalf of someone who befriended them on Facebook.
The following day, at around 6pm, the police apprehended one Issei Sungoh (29) of Dkhiah East from his home. Police said that it was he who made the phone calls to the victim and befriended the two arrested the previous day.
Sungoh was one of the main accused in the IED explosion case at Khliehriat police reserve in 2021 but was later bailed.
Despite only listing Sungoh and the two who jumped into the victim’s car, police listed four people as having been arrested – Sungoh, one Daruis Pakem (19) of Moolaitbri Sumer and the two juveniles, whose names were not released for legal reasons.
