Meghalaya launches operation to rescue abducted official
November 22nd, 2011 - 4:44 pm ICT by IANSShillong, Nov 22 (IANS) Security forces have launched an operation in western Meghalaya to rescue a state government official and two Assam-based traders abducted by Garo rebels, an official said Tuesday.
Heavily armed GNLA rebels abducted two traders — Dulal Modak and Rokybul Haque - and P.K. Boro, the block development officer (BDO) posted at Dadenggre from two areas of Meghalaya’s West Garo Hills district Monday.
Boro was abducted at gunpoint from his official chamber at Dadenggre block while the two traders were kidnapped from Kalchengpara weekly market.
“The search operation is on,” Inspector General of Police (Western Range) GHP Raju told IANS.
Combat Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) and Meghalaya’s Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) commandos have been pressed in to service to trace the hostages.
The GNLA earlier had sent extortion demands of Rs.50 lakh to Boro through mobile text messages.
“We have not got any information whether the GNLA has contacted the family members of Boro and the traders for ransom,” Raju said.
The GNLA, headed by police officer-turned-outlaw Champion R. Sangma, has unleashed a reign of terror in the three impoverished districts of Garo Hills in the western part of Meghalaya.
Over 20 people, including security personnel have been killed while more than 10 people were abducted for ransom in the area in the last one year by GNLA rebels.
Champion, who claims to be fighting for a separate Garoland, has been camping in Bangladesh for several months in search of support.
The outfit has also forged an alliance with the Bangladesh-based rebel group, A’chik Special Dragon Party.
The GNLA has over 100 rebels, including a few women cadres, operating in the three impoverished districts. The outfit has procured a cache of HK53 rifles and explosives to add to their arsenal.
The outfit had earlier slapped extortion demands ranging from Rs.5 lakh to Rs.1 crore on government officials, ministers, legislators and businessmen.
The Garo Hills region is being used as a safe haven by various northeast-based militant groups.
- Meghalaya rebels set conditions for releasing official - Nov 23, 2011
- Meghalaya rebels set conditions for releasing official (Lead) - Nov 24, 2011
- No trace of kidnapped official in Meghalaya - Nov 28, 2011
- Meghalaya rebels free traders, official untraced - Dec 02, 2011
- Meghalaya rebel chief nabbed in Bangladesh : Police - Nov 25, 2011
- Suspected Meghalaya rebels abduct official, traders - Nov 21, 2011
- GNLA sets conditions to free abducted engineers - Jan 28, 2012
- Rebels free Meghalaya official after 34 days - Dec 24, 2011
- Four policemen injured in ambush by Garo rebels - Dec 20, 2011
- Meghalaya's views sought to declare GNLA outlawed - Nov 01, 2011
- Will not withdraw forces from Garo Hills: Sangma - Dec 06, 2011
- Kidnapped engineers untraced, GNLA chief escapes (Lead) - Jan 27, 2012
- Garo rebel group GNLA declared terrorist outfit - Feb 01, 2012
- Two civilians killed, abducted manager untraced in Meghalaya - Jan 18, 2012
- Meghalaya Police announce reward for catching GNLA rebels - Apr 28, 2012
Tags: abducted, bdo, combat battalion, crore, extortion, garo hills district, ghp, gunpoint, lakh, mobile text, modak, raju, rebel group, reign of terror, rs 50, search operation, shillong, special weapons and tactics, west garo hills, west garo hills district