Photo Courtesy: nenow
Shillong: The Hills Farmers Union (HFU) met with Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Monday to demand a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into illegal cash collections from livestock haulers. The union claims drivers must pay fees via GPay or UPI into a private account registered as Pankaj Das Car Rental. They want answers now.
HFU general secretary Allfonbirth Kharsyntiew presented evidence of these payments at the Taraghar State Guest House. He alleges that after paying the so-called direct entry fee, drivers receive a contact number. This person tracks the vehicle and coordinates with others along the road to ensure the livestock passes without incident. The union also handed over intelligence on police personnel allegedly embedded in this collection scheme.
"We submitted the evidence to the Chief Minister and demanded an investigation into the account," Kharsyntiew said. The union wants the Ri-Bhoi Deputy Commissioner to issue an immediate stop order for the district. They are also calling for the suspension of any officials tied to the racket to ensure a clean investigation. The HFU expects the government to act swiftly.
The Chief Minister promised to discuss the evidence with senior police brass and the Home Department. Copies of the HFU report went to Deputy Chief Minister in charge of Home, DGP Idashisha Nongrang, and Ri-Bhoi SP Giri Prasad. This push for accountability follows the union’s broader campaign for tighter livestock regulations after a recent pig disease outbreak. "If the illegal collection continues, the union will not remain silent and will come out with all the facts before the public," Kharsyntiew warned.
Updated at 15th September 2026 at 2:00pm
Beyond the corruption allegations, the union also pressed the government for financial relief for pig farmers crippled by the recent African Swine Fever outbreak. HFU president Commander Shangpliang demanded direct compensation for lost stock and a total waiver of loans taken under the state's Piggery Mission. He argued that farmers cannot pay back debts when their livestock has been wiped out by disease.
The union blamed the outbreak on a lack of oversight at the border. Shangpliang claimed that despite police checks on incoming trucks, there are no dedicated veterinary screening points or quarantine centers to catch infected animals before they enter the state. He also criticized current insurance policies, calling them impractical because they force farmers to photograph or conduct post-mortems on infected animals, which risks spreading the disease to healthy stock.
During the meeting, the Chief Minister pointed the delegation toward the state's draft agriculture policy. Officials have posted the document online for public feedback, with a final approval expected by October. The union promised to submit its own input and urged other farmers to review the policy before the deadline.
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