By Manoj Kumar Ojha
Guwahati: The people across the state has reacted over extortion demands from businessmen in upper Assam after two arrested on Saturday.
Two Ulfa(I) linkman was apprehended in a joint operation near Dibrugarh University in eastern Assam Dibrugarh on Saturday.
” Replying to Assam police DGP GP Singh, Some people from so called Unions must be also given proper lessons as to using Dadagiri to disrupt business activities. Their jealousy and Nikmmagiri must be also dealt with so that they don’t create hindrances to the economic growth of Assam,” Amit Nanda ( Nanda Ambarish ) a Twitter user wrote to DGP of Assam.
Angshuman , an another Twitter user, wrote, ” Replying to @ gpsinghips Not only banned organizations but active ” Jatiyo ” organization are still collecting money silently, without making demands or using violence like before. Small shopkeepers and rickshaw Wallas to pay them or fall victim to systematic violence & media trials. “
The business establishments of upper Assam too have been constantly appealing the government to provide a peaceful and fear-free environment to work here .
Upper Assam is regarded as the main commercial hub of the state especially Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Sivasagar, Golaghat and Jorhat.
The linkman were identified as Pushpanjali Gogoi and Hema Chetia.
Pushpanjali Gogoi hails from Dihing village of Laipuli area of Tinsukia while Hema Chetia hails from Khowang.
“During a joint operation, Rs 3 lakh was seized from Pushpanjali Gogoi while
Rs 164000 was seized from Hema Chetia,” said a police official.
Talking to media persons, Dibrugarh Superintendent of police Shwetank Mishra said, “We have received an tip off regarding extortion money which were extorted from businessmen. A joint team of police, Army and CRPF conducted an operation near Dibrugarh University area and successfully apprehended a woman Ulfa(I) linkman identified and a person, who was a former Ulfa(I) cadre,”.
“We have seized Rs 3 lakh extortion money from the possesion of Pushpanjali Gogoi. We have also seized Rs 164000 from the possession Hema Chetia. We have started our investigation. The cash which were seized were extorted from businessmen,” the SP said.
Mishra said, “During interogation, Hema Chetia reveled that more extortion money was kept in his house. A joint team went to his house to seized the extortion money at Tinthengia gaon and a altercation took place and he tried to attack the policemen with a grenade type thing, to disarm him, the police team fired in his leg. He was admitted at AMCH and out of danger,”.
The SP said, “We have received a bottle grenade and Rs 10000 from his residence. During, interogation, Hema Chetia reveled that he was a former Ulfa cadre,”.
“Hema Chetia is basically a Ulfa(I) linkman and collected extortion money from businessmen and transport it to other linkman,” he said.
The SP further said, “Our investigation has been going on and more arrest will likely to be take place,”.
Recently, the Ulfa (Independent) has sent an extortion letter to a tea garden located in Sonari area of Charaideo district seeking Rs 72 lakh for the militant organisation’s fund.
Police said that the extortion letter, signed by Ulfa (I) leader Nayan Asom was sent to Manoj Gogoi, the manager of Timon tea estate in Charaideo via WhatsApp.
The extortion letter sought an amount of Rs 72 lakh for the organisational fund. No one related to the incident has been apprehended by the police till now and further investigation into the matter is on.
“Extortion letters are coming from Ulfa(I) but in most of the times the victim didn’t report to the police. Ulfa(I) has been running their organisation with extortion money. Now, they have used many techniques to extort money from businessmen,” said a source.
“In the recent past extortion demands have been received by some business persons in Upper Assam in the name of banned organisation ULFA [irrespective of genuine or fake]. Police has apprehended some persons while collecting such money. One of them has been injured today in shoot out while trying to flee by attacking police personnel,” DGP GP Singh tweeted.
In another tweet, “It may please be informed that collection of money in the name of ULFA [irrespective of genuine or fake] attracts the provision of Sections 17, 21, 24, 26, 39 & 40 of the UAP Act since ULFA is a banned terrorist organisation. These provisions are for collection of funds, using proceeds of terrorism etc and may lead to forfeiture of property of the persons involved in collection of funds for ULFA [irrespective of claims of genuine or fake] Concerned District Police and Security forces have been directed to take firm action against any person involved in making extortion demands and/or collection of such demanded money,”.
“Assam Police would not let the economic development of the state be held hostage by such persons and take ruthless action per law. People are advised not to be part of such collection of extortion or demanded money,” he said.
The post Assam: Small shopkeepers and Rickshaw Wallas also pay extortion appeared first on OUR INDIA.
