Guwahati, August 21, 2024 – In a significant breakthrough, Guwahati Police have arrested two individuals accused of running an extortion racket while falsely posing as members of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA). The arrests were made public on Tuesday, following a complaint from the proprietor of The Tiles Gallery, a business in the Tetelia area of Guwahati.
The complaint, filed on August 17, 2024, detailed that the proprietor received a threatening handwritten letter on July 31, 2024. The letter, purportedly from an individual identifying himself as Anup Chetia, included the phrase “Swadhin Asom” and directed the recipient to contact a specific phone number. Upon calling, the complainant was met with demands for money and threats of severe consequences if payment was not made.
Under duress, the complainant handed over Rs 20,000 to an associate of the caller near the Radisson Blu hotel on August 17, 2024.
A subsequent police investigation led to the identification and arrest of Raju Das, a resident of Kalitapara, and Paban Darjee, from Arundhati Nagar. Both suspects have a history of involvement in similar extortion activities, with prior cases registered against them at Panbazar and Paltanbazar Police Stations. The investigation revealed that they had extorted money from several commercial establishments across Guwahati City.
Acting on the intelligence gathered, the West Guwahati Police swiftly apprehended both suspects, who are now in the custody of Jalukbari Police. The authorities are continuing their investigation to uncover the full extent of the extortion racket.