TURA, Aug 30: Tura police have seized a letter alleged to be from the Tengsak G Momin faction of GSU in which the student leader is demanding money from a trader from Tura as part of an annual agreement to pay the student body in what is said to be a case of extortion racket.

The copy of the letter which was given to the trader is in the letter pad of the GSU and signed under the name of Tengsak G Momin. The copy of the letter was displayed to the media by the police on Monday. Police are refraining from naming the trader but say that such letters seeking annual monetary figures have been going on for years.

In the letter it mentions- “As per the yearly agreement I request Rs 15000/- for the year 2022 be resolved for the union. We are grateful for your cooperation,” and has the name of the GSU president with a sign.

“This is another form of extortion taking place in Tura markets where businessmen and shopkeepers are forced to pay up and is the main reason why common people are being forced to buy food items at higher costs,” said West Garo Hills SP Vivekanand Singh Rathore.

The police chief said that the law will come down heavily on anyone indulging in extortion to ensure the people of Tura obtain the right price for their food and other items.

While the police chief has not ruled out involvement of others in this racket, but at the moment prima facie evidence is on the GGSU group led by Tengsak G momin, he said.

The GSU presently has two factions- one side is backing the Zikku Balgra Marak faction and the other Tengsak G Momin faction. The division occurred after Tengsak Momin refused to step down from the president’s post and continued to hold on to the name and did not hold elections.

The grouse against Tengsak G Momin is that he is no longer a student nor a member of any college or university and has refused to hold student elections.