Meghalaya: Police busts extortion, FICN racket in WGH; kingpin arrested

From Our Correspondent | TURA, May 30, 2018

The West Garo Hills police busted a gang of mixed criminals, involved in extortion as well as the circulation of Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN), ultimately leading to the arrest of the kingpin.

In addition to the kingpin, six others were also arrested.

According to the police, there were inputs received of miscreants operating in WGH who were extorting money from various businessmen. The criminals had also been threatening those they demanded from with dire consequences in case they failed to pay up.

One of the businessmen, who was regularly threatened agreed to their demands on May 23 and came to hand over mobile phones and money to the extortionists in Tura. A police team intercepted the businessman after which revealed that he had provided some mobile phones to the criminals as he could not arrange the money and sought some time

"They demanded that the money should be given to them on May 25 and subsequently a police team was deputed to operate around Tura to nab the culprits. Two persons namely Dipit Ch. Marak and Rakseng Ch. Marak were arrested by the police," said superintendent of police of WGH, Dr MGR Kumar.

The phones that were given by the businessmen were also recovered from the two arrested criminals along 7 numbers of FICN of 200 denomination. A case was registered at Tura Sadar P.S.

"On further investigation it was found that there are some more gang members operating from both Assam and Meghalaya. Based on leads provided by them, three more persons, Sonowal Islam, Alom Hussain and Ahdur Islam were arrested from Tura as they had also connived with the extortionists," added Dr Kumar.

The police found out that the entire FICN operation was being operated by one Ismail Hussain from Goalpara who used to arrange the FICN for circulation through Rakseng Ch Marak and Rofiqul Islam in Garo Hills.

"A police team was sent to Goalpara to nab the main accused and during the operation Ismail Hussain and Sahin Rahmat were arrested for possession of FICN amounting to 82,300. Later, the team also arrested Rofiqul Islam. Investigation into the case is currently ongoing and we are working on ascertaining the facts as well as other members of the same gang," said Dr Kumar.