Taking into consideration reports of extortion of commercial establishments by individuals and groups, the District Magistrate of East Khasi Hills today issued an order under Section 163 of the BNSS warning of legal action against anyone collecting money from such businesses without authorisation.
Such extortion is often carried out with explicit or at least implicit threats against the shop owners if they do not pay up. They can be dressed up as voluntary donations or even as so-called taxes that are to be paid to the pressure or militant group collecting them.
The DM warned that any collection without authorisation will elicit legal action against Sec 308 of the BNS (dealing with extortion) and Sec 223 of the BNS (that deals with failure to follow the Sec 163 BNSS order). The order comes into force with immediate effect and will apply until further notice.
