Tura, May 26: Garoland State movement Committee Chairman Balkarin Marak has been arrested and sent to jail in a case pertaining to alleged extortion from a petrol pump station in Mendipathar which took place four months ago.
Balkarin came before the District Sessions Court in North Garo Hills on Wednesday to surrender after his bail plea was rejected by the Meghalaya High Court as he had been on the run for many months despite a warrant of arrest against him for the incident at Mendipather town.
Balkarin was accompanied by GHADC Deputy CEM and former GSMC leader Nikman Ch Marak and so called RTI activist Nilbert Marak of Williamnagar when he surrendered to the district court in Resubelpara.
In that Mendipathar incident that took place in the beginning of this year, a large group of GSMC members entered the petrol pump and demanded several lakh rupees as fine on the claim that adulterated fuel was being sold to the public. The employees refused to pay, so in retaliation they shut down the station.
Since then several accused members were arrested but Balkarin could not be found. A lookout notice was issued with an arrest warrant but it too failed to locate him.
Finally, when Balkarin moved the High Court seeking a regular bail it was rejected ending his long run. He has now been taken to Tura district Jail under judicial custody.
