SHILLONG, May 1 (IANS) - Meghalaya Home Minister HDR Lyngdoh Friday said that a police probe has been ordered into the extortion demands of militant outfit, the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) to politicians and businessmen.
"We have received some information about GNLA sending SMSes to some politicians and businessmen demanding money from them," Lyngdoh told IANS, adding, police have started their investigation.
"The GNLA is only a bunch of criminals with the intention to make quick money for their own self," he said.
A Cabinet minister in the previous DD Lapang ministry revealed in March that he had received a number of text messages from the GNLA asking him to "contribute to the organisation or face the consequences".
The former minister, who did not wish to be named, claimed some Garo legislators too had received such text messages from the GNLA.
The GNLA had earlier slapped extortion demands ranging from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 1 crore on petrol pump owners, coal dealers and businessmen in the coal-rich districts of Garo Hills.
A retired Inspector General of Police was among those who received the extortion note.
Champion R Sangma, a deputy superintendent of police-turned-rogue, is believed to be heading GNLA, whose cadres are deserters, mostly from the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), Achik National Volunteers Council (ANVC) and Liberation of Achik Elite Force (LAEF).
"The police are putting all efforts to nab the GNLA cadres, including their ring leader Champion Sangma," Lyngdoh said.
Police are hunting for Sangma, but so far without success.
