Truckers allege harassment, extortion on Meghalaya highways

Alleging extortion and harassment on highways, a truckers’ association has asked the Meghalaya government to dismantle all illegal toll gates and also provide security on the roads.    "The state government has totally failed to remove all illegal check gates and illegal weighbridges till date. The government is still encouraging extortion and other illegal activities of miscreants," the North East Commercial TruckOwners and Operations Association said in a representation to chief minister DD Lapang.    Giving a list of weighbridges and check gates which have been operating in the coal-rich areas of the state, the association said though the government had ordered dismantling of the gates last month, they have reopened again.     "On April 2, miscreants shot at a truck in East Garo Hills district but luckily the driver and handyman escapedunhurt," the representation said, adding that miscreants were demanding Rs3,000 to Rs5,000 from coal-laden trucks.    It said trucks were damaged when miscreants pelted stones after the drivers refused to comply with their demands.