JOWAI: A coal mine supervisor (Sordar) of a coal mine at Pass Phut around 20 km from Byndihati village in East Jaintia Hills was allegedly kidnapped for ransom on Sunday evening.
Sources informed on Monday that four unidentified armed men came to the labour camp of one Donald Rymbai of Rymbai village at around 9 pm and forcibly dragged the Sordar of the coal mine, Kumar Bhujel (32) outside and took him to a nearby jungle.
After the wife of the victim screamed for help, the labourers who woke up, tried to rescue him, but in vain as the kidnappers were well armed.
On Monday morning, the kidnappers called up his wife and demanded Rs.10 lakh for his safe release.
Police said, “The kidnappers spoke different languages including Mizo, Naga, Kachari, Bodo, Khasi, Pnar and Karbi but not English”.
“We have registered a case in this connection and investigation is on to trace the victim”, police added.
Traders beheaded in Block I
Two traders dealing in ginger business in the disputed Block I area were recently found be-headed by l miscreants who posed themselves as members of a militant group of Karbi-Anglong District.
The victims have been identified as Bhimand Lyngdoh (32) of Jrikyndeng and one Sudeep of Lanka, Assam.
Sources informed that both the traders were abducted since January 1 and subsequently, the kidnappers demanded Rs 3 crore for their safe release. “Family of the victims paid Rs 20 lakh to the abductors and the amount was paid on February 3”, said a reliable source. Though the amount was paid, the kidnappers failed to release both the traders.
After the matter was brought to the notice of the police, with the help of local people from Jrikyndeng, Karbi-Anglong, police arrested five persons, while two others, who were master minds in the kidnapping case, are still at large.
Three of the arrested kidnappers were from Khyrmi (Umkhyrmi) village in Block I and the other two were from Lanka (Longka), Assam while the remaining two, who are still absconding, are from North Cachar Hills.
Sources informed that, one of the kidnappers after getting his share from the ransom, bought a land in Jrikyndeng village at the cost of Rs 2 lakh.
“A local contractor was to buy the land for Rs 1 lakh, but the kidnapper increased the price and bought it for himself at Rs. 2 lakh. The kidnapper has also bought new clothes and other households articles”, a source said.
Some of the villagers suspected his movement and informed the police leading to his arrest. On being interrogated, he has not only revealed the name of his other accomplices but also led to the police to the place where the traders were killed and dumped.
While the beheaded body of Sudeep was recovered on Saturday from a jungle near Jrikyndeng, the body of Dhimand Lyngdoh was recovered on Sunday.
The MDC from Sahsniang, Chanky Lyngdoh accompanied Lyngdoh’s family members to Jrikyndeng on Sunday. “I had a meeting with Pnar people residing at Jrikyndeng and I advised them to be united in condemning such criminal activities”, the MDC said.