An unidentified clutch of extortionists have been targeting poultry transporters in Ri-Bhoi, forcing each truck carrying the birds to fork up tens of thousands of rupees.
The Confederation of Ri-Bhoi People (CoRP) today registered a formal complaint regarding this with the Additional Deputy Commissioner here.
CoRP leader Pateng Myrsing later told reporters that the pressure groups has received multiple complaints from local traders supplying poultry to Meghalaya. These traders reported being charged exorbitant fees, amounting to over Rs 30,000 per vehicle, by an unidentified group for transporting poultry into the state.
Traders have flocked together to condemn these unauthorised so-called entry charges, saying that it adds a significant financial burden and leads to higher prices for consumers.
Although he did not call them out specifically, the issue of illegal toll gates and check gates throughout much of Khasi-Jaintia Hills has proven to be a constant annoyance for traders, who are subjected to seemingly random and illegal collections in the names of the autonomous district councils.
CoRP and the traders want the Ri-Bhoi authorities to crack down on the problem and whisk the extortionists away.
