Arunachal: Khonsa shopkeepers say ‘No to Extortion’

Itanagar: Several shopkeepers and members of the Bazar Committee in Khonsa have pledged to ‘say no to extortion’ and instantly report any matters related to it to the local police and security forces.

Khonsa, the headquarters of Tirap district in Arunachal Pradesh, is around 298km from the state capital Itanagar.

The shopkeepers took the pledge during a security meeting with the 6th Battalion of Assam Rifles and Tirap police on Sunday.

Officials said that the meet was convened to discuss and prevent the menace of extortion by the insurgent groups and matters related to COVID-19 in the district.

Reports of rampant extortion activities by insurgent groups are regular in Tirap. Most of these activities are perpetrated by underground groups as means to generate funds.

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Following an extended discussion, the meeting resolved that the shopkeepers would not pay any extortion money/tax/collection to anyone and report any threats, demand letters or phone calls to police and Assam Rifles.

The house agreed that posters/banners displaying “No Insurgency” and “No Extortion” would be displayed in the entire market area by the Bazar Committee.

It was also decided that CCTVs would be installed in the shops and important places of the Khonsa town while the already installed non-functioning CCTVs would be made functional at the earliest.

The shopkeepers were urged to have faith in Assam Rifles and Tirap Police and report any wrongdoings immediately.

The meeting was followed by a brief presentation on COVID-19 and related SoPs by the medical authorities of Assam Rifles, officials added.