Assam man held for extortion, gets bail

GUWAHATI: A top officer bearer of a regional organisation was arrested on charges of extortion in upper Assam's Sivasagar district on Tuesday morning, police said.
The arrested leader has been identified as Shrinkhal Chaliha, a top officer bearer of Veer Lachit Sena.
He had allegedly demanded money from a businessman in the name of donations for organising a cultural event and spat in the face of the trader when he refused.
Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma last year appealed to the people of the state to avoid the forcible donation culture saying anyone found forcibly collecting money would be dealt with strict action under the law.
Assam DGP GP Singh, while confirming the arrest, said the state government's directions against the forcible collection of money for socio-cultural events would be strictly implemented by Assam police.
Chaliha and some other members of his group had reportedly demanded donations from a businessman in Sivasagar district last week. When the person refused to pay claiming that he had already paid his share through a traders' association, Chaliha had verbally abused him and spat in his face.
The aggrieved businessman had filed a complaint with the police, on the basis of which Chaliha has been arrested. However, he was granted bail by a lower court on Tuesday evening.