Meghalaya rebels free traders, official untraced
December 2nd, 2011 - 12:10 am ICT by IANSShillong, Dec 1 (IANS) Two Assam traders who were kidnapped by Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) rebels have been released unharmed after 10 days of captivity, police said Thursday. However, an abducted Meghalaya official is still untraced.
“Dulal Modak and Rokybul Haque were freed by the captors Wednesday night at Sasatgre village, but we were informed only this morning about their release,” Ricky Dkhar, the district police chief West Garo Hills, told IANS.
Sasatgre is about 35 km from Tura - the district headquarters of West Garo Hills district.
On Nov 21, armed GNLA rebels kidnapped the two traders and P.K. Boro, the block development officer (BDO) posted at Dadenggre, from two areas of Meghalaya’s West Garo Hills district.
Boro was abducted at gunpoint from his official chamber in Dadenggre block while the two traders were kidnapped from Kalchengpara weekly market.
An intelligence official said the victims were released after the rebels were paid ransom. However, police officials refused to comment on it.
With the 10-day deadline of the GNLA to execute Boro expiring Thursday evening, Meghalaya Police are looking for Boro in the dense forests of Garo Hills.
The GNLA had given the deadline to the Meghalaya government to withdraw the central forces from Garo Hills, failing which the outfit will execute the abducted official.
“We are following them as they travel from one place to the other. However, we cannot open fire at the rebels as his (Boro) safety is of paramount importance,” said B. Kezo, acting director general of police.
The GNLA has been demanding for withdrawal of central forces - two units of CoBRA commandos and five companies of Border Security Force (BSF) troopers - ever since the troops were deployed in Garo Hills area in July.
The family members of the abducted official said they have no information about Boro.
“We have not received any phone calls from anyone nor from him (Boro). We are waiting for his safe return,” Boro’s wife Aparajita Mushahary said, while appealing to the GNLA through the media to allow her to speak to her husband over phone.
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.
- No trace of kidnapped official in Meghalaya - Nov 28, 2011
- Meghalaya launches operation to rescue abducted official - Nov 22, 2011
- Meghalaya rebels set conditions for releasing official - Nov 23, 2011
- Meghalaya rebels set conditions for releasing official (Lead) - Nov 24, 2011
- Rebels free Meghalaya official after 34 days - Dec 24, 2011
- Suspected Meghalaya rebels abduct official, traders - Nov 21, 2011
- Meghalaya rebel chief nabbed in Bangladesh : Police - Nov 25, 2011
- Will not withdraw forces from Garo Hills: Sangma - Dec 06, 2011
- 10 days on, no trace of kidnapped Meghalaya engineers - Feb 03, 2012
- GNLA sets conditions to free abducted engineers - Jan 28, 2012
- Abducted Meghalaya engineers freed: Police - Feb 05, 2012
- Kidnapped engineers untraced, GNLA chief escapes (Lead) - Jan 27, 2012
- Fierce gunfight after rebels attack Meghalaya police officer - Feb 28, 2012
- Meghalaya Police announce reward for catching GNLA rebels - Apr 28, 2012
- GNLA rebels, forces exchange fire in Meghalaya - Mar 02, 2012
Tags: abducted, assam, bdo, border security force, dense forests, district headquarters, district police, free traders, garo hills district, gunpoint, intelligence official, kezo, modak, national liberation army, open fire, paramount importance, police officials, shillong, west garo hills, west garo hills district