HNLC extortion demand row in Meghalaya: Can’t rule out fraud in such cases, says Dy CM

Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong said that Police are investigating into the alleged serving of extortion demand notes in the name of the proscribed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) in the Khasi and Jaintia Hills region.

HNLC is currently involved in peace talks with the Centre and the state government.

Tynsong said that the HNLC was serious about the peace talks and the HNLC leaders had recently clarified that the outfit is not behind the circulation of demand notes.

The Deputy Chief Minister said that some of the leaders of the outfit had recently come out openly to clarify that the demand notes were not issued by the HNLC.

Tynsong added that the government will not tolerate the seeking of donations by any group and has urged the HNLC to act if the outfit comes across any instance of its letterhead being misused.

Tynsong said, “I met the HNLC leader a few days ago and we discussed the extortion demand notes that surfaced on social media in the name of the outfit. Nowadays, it is so easy, even to issue a duplicate letterhead. I told the leader to be serious and take action in case anybody uses their letterhead without their consent and they agreed to do that.”

When asked about his view on a possible attempt to derail the peace process, the Deputy Chief Minister said that police are on the job to find out who is involved in this and what is their intention. Tynsong said that forgery cannot be ruled out in such a case.

It may be mentioned that a tripartite peace talks were held between the government of India, Meghalaya government and the HNLC recently in which the outfit had demanded amnesty for its cadres and withdrawal of all criminal charges registered against them.

Also Read: Meghalaya police investigate HNLC extortion demand notice circulating on social media