SHILLONG, Dec 23: Suspected HNLC rebels gunned down a prominent coal exporter and shot at his wife in their Pomshutia village residence near the India-Bangladesh border this morning.
According to police sources, four armed men entered the house of coal exporter Raja Khongsit at about 5.30 am and then started firing, leaving him dead and his wife Milphiya Massar seriously injured.
Khongsit, who was shot in the chest at point-blank range, succumbed to his injuries on the way to hospital. Milphiya was battling for life.
Khongsit was also vice-president of the Meghalaya Commercial Truck Owners’ and Operators’ Association (MCTOA). The post-mortem report said the coal exporter died due to bullet injuries and that a 9mm pistol was used for eliminating him.
Blaming the HNLC for the crime, police sources indicated that Khongsit was killed for not responding to extortion notice served by the proscribed outfit. A senior police official said the police had intelligent inputs that the killers had demanded about Rs 20 lakh from Khongsit.
He said it was no secret that traders and businessmen in the area were prone to paying money to the outfit, though the matter was not reported to the police most of the time due to the fear of reprisal or ‘mutual consent.’
Meanwhile, personnel of special operation team (SOT) rushed to Pynursla and Dawki areas and launched a manhunt. The investigating agencies are reportedly encountering hiccups because the family members of Khongsit are not ready to reveal anything on the circumstances leading to the killing. THE SENTINEL
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