Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong assures to end extortion in Meghalaya

Staff Reporter

Shillong, Nov 1: Deputy Chief Minister-in-charge of Home (Police) Prestone Tynsong today assured that the department will take steps to end any kind of extortion in the state.

“We are on the job and we will ensure that there is no illegal collection or extortion,” Tynsong told reporters.

His statement came two days after the arrest of the president of the Hynniewtrep National Youth Front (HNYF) East Khasi Hills District Bless Dkhar for allegedly being involved in illegal collection from overloaded trucks passing through the Umiam Bridge.

Stating that nobody should be above the law, Tynsong said, “Be it men or women or NGOs or anybody, I request that we should not cross the boundary line. Whether you say it is extortion or any illegalities, my request is please respect the law.”

Tynsong said that police only arrest gangs involved in criminal activities.

“It depends on the NGOs if they have anything, let them give clarification because when we make an arrest, we arrest only criminals. We cannot say anything on whether he belongs to which group or which village but we arrest gangs for (their) criminal activities,” he stated.

Dkhar, who was arrested from Pohkseh, was produced before a lower court on Tuesday and he remanded to 3 days of police custody.