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TURA, May 22
Tensions ran high around the Assam – Meghalaya border after two traders, who were kidnapped almost about a week ago are yet to be released even after family members of the two paid ransom money to secure their release. The kidnap of the two victims took place in the evening of May 15 at about 7 pm.Police sources suspect the kidnapping to be the handiwork of a mixed gang. “This is definitely the work of a mixed gang or how would they know who was coming an in what vehicle? These are criminals and criminals do not have any community. Giving the whole episode a communal colour would benefit them and this is what they are trying to do,” said a highly placed police source.
Purportedly no FIR was filed by the family and it was only after the money was paid to the kidnappers that the matter came to light and police action began.
According to sources from Mankachar, the two young traders had gone to Tura to register a vehicle they had bought. However while returning from the town they were stopped by some unidentified miscreants and kidnapped at gun point near the village of Ghoramara under Garobadha Police Station in West Garo Hills (WGH).
The two, Akidul Islam (19) and Humayun hail from Mankachar’s College Nagar.
After the kidnapping on May 15, the kidnappers stayed in constant touch with the family of the victims and demanded an amount of Rs 5 lakhs each for their release. However after negotiation, the amount was fixed at Rs 2 lakhs. The amount was paid by the families of the victims on the evening of May 18 but the victims are yet to be released.
Immediately after the payment of ransom, the kidnappers severed all contact with the family of the victims and all attempts to contact them proved futile. The growing tension is mainly on the fact that the victims may have been killed after ransom was paid.
Rumour mongers have also played a part in the tension, with some people falsely stating that the body of one of the victims was found near Damalgre. This was later proven to be false and was rather a rumour after another body was discovered near Boldakgre.
The non release of the two victims has led to simmering tension within the town of Mankachar, with residents complaining of the poor security situation for residents of the state within Meghalaya.
Taking into account the growing tension, the Superintendent of Police (SP) of South West Garo Hills (SWGH), Aditya Goenka and Deputy Commissioner (DC), Ram Singh, along with an Additional SP of Mankachar, D Borah, paid a visit to the family of the victims and assured them of all support from the Meghalaya police side to help locate the victims and ensure their safe return. The team also tried to diffuse tensions that were high.
According to a source in Mankachar, this is the 4th such case of kidnap victims remaining untraced while there were three cases of kidnap victims being killed even after payment of ransom money.
The case is currently with the WGH police and investigation into the kidnapping is underway.
