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KLPT extortion notes to Block II villagers

By Correspondent

SHILLONG, Sept 2 - Indigenous communities residing in Block II of Karbi Anglong today claimed that Karbi Peoples� Liberation Tigers (KLPT) has served extortion notes to villagers in the area on August 30, with a three month deadline to pay up the amount.

Rangbah Shnong (village headman) of Umtlih village in the area, Precious Marsharing, said the KLPT militants have served the extortion note and asked each household to pay Rs 1,000 within the next three months. Block II is in Karbi Anglong district of Assam adjoining Ri-Bhoi district of Meghalaya.

�The KLPT served a similar extortion note last year. An FIR was filed in that case. Many villagers paid up, but the majority didn�t,� Marsharing said. Last year, the KLPT served the extortion demand after categorising each household based on their financial condition.

Marsharing said, a household which had rice grinders was asked to pay Rs 10,000, those having power tillers were asked to pay Rs 30,000 while those possessing vehicles were asked to pay Rs 5,000.

�These demand notes are served as �annual tax� to the KLPT. But, many of the villagers are agriculturists and are unable to pay such amounts,� the village headman said.

In this regard, the villagers are demanding that a police outpost be set up in the area so that harassment from the militants would stop. Marsharing said, the Deputy Commissioner of Ri-Bhoi district has promised to set up a police outpost in the area last year, but failed to keep his promise.

�We would be meeting the Chief Minister and demand that a police outpost is established either at Umtlih, Madan Umwang or Umlaper,� he added. Indigenous residents of Block I, adjoining Jaintia Hills, have complained of similar harassment and extortion note served to them by militants.

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