ANVC threatens coal traders

SHILLONG, February 4: The BSF and the police today denied having received any complaint from the coal traders in Meghalaya that they were threatened by the banned Achik National Volunteer Council (ANVC) to pay Rs 5 lakh each by tomorrow or face consequences. A section of the press here reported that the ANVC ultras again had given demand notes of Rs five lakh each to the coal exporters operating at Borsora in West Khasi Hills district and warned of dire consequences if the payment was not made by tomorrow. BSF Inspector General V K Gaur told UNI that they had not received any complaint from the traders so far. "Even I had gone to Borsora area last month and asked the coal traders about any problem, but none of them said about it, he said. Though the BSF's duty was to patrol within 15 km from the Indo-Bangladesh border, yet if the State police sought any cooperation, "we are ready to assist," he said. West Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police H Nongpluh from Nongstoin told UNI over phone that even he had not been informed by any trader of the new threat. Asked to comment on police preparation to check such activities the SP said a company of police was always on duty for protection of the coal trucks at Borsora. Last year also during the same time, hundreds of coal laden trucks were stopped by the ANVC gunmen for several days at Borsora demanding Rs 10,000 each per vehicle. Today's demand again created panic among the traders in anticipation of the last year's experiences. Significantly, the route through which coal is exported to Bangladesh generates about Rs 10 crore revenue for the Government. Despite police claim to intensify security, the traders felt at a loss when such threaten came and was left with no other option but give in.