GNLA kidnaps 2 govt staff
TURA: Two government employees travelling from Phulbari region to Tura were abducted at gunpoint by suspected GNLA militants from Selsella region on Tuesday morning while a shop owner, who was kidnapped on Sunday, managed to break free from the militants’ captivity.
The twin abductions come within days of a Buddhist village elder being shot and killed at Haldibari while a shoe trader was taken away at gunpoint during Sunday’s market day at Zekabari village, under Garobadha police station in West Garo Hills district.
A sumo taxi ferrying passengers from Phulbari-New Bhaitbari region to Tura was waylaid by gun toting Garo militants led by GNLA commander Krimpet at Boldoka, near Selsella on the main road leading up to Garobadha at around 9:45 am. The militants dragged out two passengers, Mekmohan Koch and Rashim Koch and took them away into the thick forests nearby.
Mekmohan Koch works in the land survey department of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council in Tura while Rashim belongs to the state medical department, informed police.
Police teams dispatched to try and rescue the two abducted persons gave chase and caught up with the militant group and their captives at remote Dipogre village, located between Selsella and Dadenggre, at around 12:50pm leading to a brief fire fight.
The militants escaped from the gun battle with their captives with neither side sustaining any casualty.
“We caught up with the kidnappers at Dipogre but the distance between them and us was several hundred meters apart which helped them to escape,” informed police officials engaged in the operation.
Meanwhile, shoe shop owner of Zekabari, Fozal Haque, who was kidnapped by GNLA militants on Sunday managed to break free from the militants during the early morning hours and returned home unhurt.
He told police that he was able to escape during the early morning hours on the pretext of answering to the call of nature.
The militants had kept him captive in a hut atop a small hill and had dropped their guard when he took the opportunity to break free.
At the same time, a brick kiln owner who was abducted by militants from Pelga Wari, in the outskirts of Tura, last week, has been released. Police inform that the businessman returned home but has denied any ransom being paid.
The businessman was lured into a trap by the militants who with the help of an acquaintance compelled him to accompany the brick consignment to Pelga Wari with surety of payment on the spot.
