Thaindian News

Shillong, Nov 28 (IANS) The whereabouts of a government official and two Assam-based traders kidnapped by the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) rebels remain unknown a week after their abduction, an official said Sunday.

On Nov 21, armed GNLA rebels abducted P.K. Boro, the block development officer (BDO) posted at Dadenggre and two traders — Dulal Modak and Rokybul Haque - from two areas of Meghalaya’s West Garo Hills district.

Boro was abducted at gunpoint from his official chamber at Dadenggre block while the two traders were kidnapped from Kalchengpara weekly market.

“We (security forces) have not been able to trace the abducted official and the two traders as they are being kept in a dense forest,” Inspector General of Police (Western Range) G.H.P. Raju told IANS.

Combat Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) and Meghalaya’s Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) commandos have been pressed into service to trace the hostages.

However, the GNLA has set conditions for releasing the official unharmed.

“Ten days’ time will be given to the Meghalaya government to withdraw the CoBRA commandos, and if the government doesn’t respond, we will send the dead body of Boro,” GNLA chairman Champion R. Sangma had told IANS through a live webchat Nov 23.

Champion had promised to release the two abducted traders soon.

However, Indian intelligence officials believe Champion has been “arrested” by Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) commandos Nov 23 night from Haluaghat in Mymensingh district of Bangladesh.

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.

Home Minister H.D.R. Lyngdoh said the government was not aware of the condition laid by the tribal outfit, which is fighting for separate Garoland to be carved out of Meghalaya.

“The operation to rescue the officer and other abducted persons will continue and the central forces will continue to be there (Garo Hills) for maintenance of law and order,” Lyngdoh said by phone from Pune.

Moreover, Chief Secretary W.M.S. Pariat told journalists that a high-level meeting was held to deliberate on ways and means to ensure release of the abducted official.

“The safety of the officer is of paramount importance and we are taking all steps to see that he returns to his family. The government will render all support to the family,” Pariat said.

The family members of the abducted official, who have been praying for their safe return, also said they have no information about Boro.

“We have not received any phone calls from anyone nor from him (Boro). We are waiting for their 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 and to know if he is still alive.

Meanwhile, the Meghalaya State Committee of the Bodo Sahitya Sabha and the United Democratic People’s Front has separately appealed to the GNLA for the immediate unconditional release of Boro on humanitarian grounds.

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.