From Our Correspondent
JOWAI: In a joint operation, Jaintia Hills Police and Assam Police on Tuesday afternoon shot dead three kidnappers and rescued an abducted fourteen-year-old boy from inside a jungle in Lanka area of Assam.
Police informed that the boy, Fortunate Rymbai, was rescued safely following an encounter with a group of around five to six persons armed with sophisticated weapons. It was however uncertain whether the kidnappers belonged to any militant outfit.
Fortunate, a Class 8 student of Khliehriat Higher Secondary School had been abducted on Monday last at around 3:15 pm by unknown miscreants who later demanded Rs 1 crore from his father, Bonyfast Shylla, a coal trader and resident of Khliehriat West in Jaintia Hills district.
Police learnt about the whereabouts of the abductors after arresting the driver of Shylla, who is suspected to be the mastermind of the abduction.
Sources informed that the kidnappers had arranged a place near Garampani to meet the victim’s father who was supposed to hand over the cash for his son’s release.
Jaintia Hills Police laid a trap to nab the kidnappers but the abductors changed the location and later asked the victim’s father to come to Umrangsho in Assam.
A police team led by Jaintia Hills Superintendent of Police, O Pasi, with the help of Assam Police ambushed the abductors at Lanka and in the ensuing exchange of fire three of the kidnappers were shot dead while the rest managed to escape.
Though the bodies are yet to be identified, Police suspect one of them to be a tribal (Naga) while the other two were non tribals.
Two abducted
In another kidnapping incident, two Munshis (coal depot managers) were allegedly kidnapped from Latyrke village in Jaintia Hills district on Monday.
Sources informed that on Monday at around 12:30 pm, unknown miscreants kidnapped one Manoj Sing and his friend Bijender Dubey. In another incident on Monday unknown miscreants made a failed attempt to abduct another coal depot manager. Sources informed that the miscreants came in a white-coloured Gypsy and tried to forcibly drag the manager to the vehicle, but he escaped. The incident took place at around 3 pm in Sookilo area of Jaintia Hills.