Shillong, Aug 19: Ri Bhoi police have confirmed the involvement of the arrested leaders of the Hynñiewtrep National Youth Movement (HNYM) in extorting tourist taxis for carrying non-tribal passengers including tourists to various parts of Meghalaya.
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 were arrested today after an FIR was lodged by drivers.
“During investigation, several photographs and video recordings were found which confirmed the allegations. Multiple bank transactions from the bank account of taxi drivers to the personal bank accounts of these individuals were also traced,” Superintendent of Police Vivekanand Singh Rathore said in a statement.
Rathore said as per the complaint, tourist taxi drivers passing through the Umdihar-Nongpoh-Umsning section of NH-6 were often stopped by a group of anti-social elements led by Syngkli at night and an amount ranging from Rs. 3000 to Rs. 6500 was extorted from them.
“All these passengers had valid documents and had been cleared to enter Meghalaya by Anti-Infiltration Check Post, Byrnihat. Apart from extortion, these anti-social elements were also harassing and physically assaulting the drivers and passengers. Due to these criminal activities, the taxi drivers, apart from facing huge inconvenience, were suffering from significant financial losses and mental distress,” he added.
The SP said after further enquiry it has been found that Tangsang and his accomplices were allegedly involved in several cases of theft, extortion, with four cases lodged in Nongpoh police station and one each in Umiam and Laban police stations.
