The president of the Hynniewtrep National Youth Front (HNYF), Bless Dkhar, was arrested by police yesterday over allegations that he has been extorting money out of trucks plying between Damsite and Umiam bridge.
Dkhar has been accused of demanding Rs 1,500 per truck along the route.
He was arrested by East Khasi Hills police in the Pohkseh neighbourhood, Superintendent of Police (City) Vivek Syiem confirmed.
Police apparently acted based on an audio recording of Dkhar in which he can be heard talking to a trader about letting the latter’s truck to pass through the Damsite-Umiam bridge route.
The recording suggests that Dkhar was negotiating rates per truck, whether they were private vehicles or belonging to the Food Corporation of India (FCI).
