The Shawano City Council held a regularly scheduled council meeting under some very tense conditions Wednesday night. A hit list uncovered by the F.B.I. has the names of 60 people from the Shawano community, including members of the council, and other leaders present at Wednesday’s meeting.
Police Chief Ed Whelon’s department was providing tight security and metal detectors for the council meeting. “We are supporting the FBI in their investigation,” Whelon said. “Any way they need our help, we’ll provide that assistance to the FBI.” Law enforcement say The Samanta Roy Institute of Science and Technology, or SIST, was being investigated in connection to the list. The group has a compound in the Town of Wescott, and it’s members and leader, Rama Behera, have been the focus of controversy over the years.
With uncertainty over how real the threat is, or exactly who’s responsible, local leaders like Whelen are asking the community to be patient. “We ask you to have some faith,” Whelon said. “I think, given time, we’ll be fine.”
Last week, the FBI and local law enforcment held a meeting with about 60 local people, all of whom were informed they are potential victims, including at least three people who were told they’ve been targeted for physical violence.
