HT Correspondent
DIMAPUR, May 9: Three persons were sentenced to one-year simple imprisonment for extorting money from truck drivers in Wokha by a local court.
An official release said Wokha Judicial Magistrate (First Class) Khrievono Seletsu passed the order against Tsenlamo Odyuo, Chonbenthung Shitiri and RH Khalempam under Section 384/34 of IPC.
The release said the three convicted extortionists stopped three truck drivers in Wokha on March 27 and demanded Rs 50,000. When they refused to pay, the extortionists seized their vehicle keys and mobile phones. They were allowed to proceed to their destination only after payment of Rs 5,700.
Seletsu passed the order taking note of the rampant extortion taking place in the state over a long period of time, which has created a sense of fear and panic among the people, particularly the business community and commercial drivers. Having a lenient approach towards the offense of extortion will only encourage the offenders to commit more such offences in the future, he said.
The prosecution was led by assistant public prosecutor Akatoli Achumi.
