SHILLONG/TURA: Police on Friday rescued two abductees, John Starley Lyngkhoi (26) and John Paul Kharsyiemiong (25) from South West Khasi Hills after they were abandoned by a mixed group of Garo militants following police raids.
Earlier, there was a hue and cry following the abductions of the duo with the KSU threatening to take action against the Garo residents in Khasi Hills.
The mother of Kharsyiemiong had on Thursday appealed to the abductors to release her son unharmed.
According to police, the breakthrough of rescuing them was achieved following the arrest of one Hubert Sangma of Shallang village, who reportedly used to collect money for GNLA.
Earlier, on November 29 at around 5:30 pm, a GNLA cadre entered the residence of one Vincent Nongmin, the employer of Lyngkhoi and Kharsyiemiong.
However, Vincent managed to escape and informed the police at Shallang station who immediately rushed to the spot. The militant abducted Lyngkhoi and Kkharsyiemiong before the arrival of the police team.
Subsequently, police conducted raids at Wahthre, Dadu, Waso Dymmit, Daso, Dalbot, Awek, Chongbeng and Rangjam to rescue the duo.
During the operations on Friday, the West Khasi Hills police apprehended Hubert who apparently came to collect extortion money from a victim.
He disclosed the details about the place where both the kidnapped persons were kept which led to police raiding the place in the afternoon.
Seeing the police raids, militants abandoned Lyngkhoi and Kharsyiemiong and ran away to thick jungles, a senior police official said.
“Both were rescued by police (and are found in good health and a case was also registered at Shallang police station”, the official added.
Earlier, the Garo Students Union, Khasi Hills zone also demanded immediate and unconditional release of two persons. The GSU also urged the Khasi comunity not to hamper the peace and brotherhood between the two communities.
UDP slams Govt : Earlier in the day, the UDP has slammed the state government for the series of kidnappings in the state and asked to ‘give up office’ if it cannot provide safety and security.
While expressing concern over the recent abduction for ransom of labourers from West Khasi Hills by unnamed Garo rebel outfit, the UDP general secretary A F Dkhar said on Friday, “It is really disheartening to learn of the plight of the people residing in areas affected by militant activities which tantamount to betrayal of the people by an elected government. The government needs to arrive at a plausible solution at the earliest or give up office for failing to do so”. “As a party that advocates peace ,a prerequisite to serve the state’s interest, we once again reiterate our fervent appeal to all concerned to abstain from such acts,which can have a very serious prospective effect, detrimental to all”, Dkhar said in a statement.
According to UDP, the government needs to arrest the recurrence of such incidents which lately appears to be a business of sorts. Prominent pressure groups from Garo Hills including GSU, ADE, AYWO, and FAF have also condemned the kidnapping of Lyngkhoi and Kharsyimiong “It is an ill-timed, illogical aberration perpetrated by people whose sense of reasoning is idiotic and foolhardy at a time when the spirit of Christmas pervades the atmosphere with a festive mood with the feelings of love,unity and forgiveness.
Appeal for cop’s release: The Garo Students’ Union (GSU), Northern Zone Resubelpara has appealed for the safe release of Khamraj Bhattarai, the policeman who was reportedly kidnapped by the GNLA recently.
“We appeal to the GNLA to release Khamraj Bhattarai unharmed without any further delay. We are apprehensive that if such incidents are not stopped in Garo Hills it will surely lead to declaration of Garo Hills as disturbed area which may pave the way for the imposition of AFSPA. The imposition of AFSPA or deployment of Army in Garo Hills will result in many Kharkutta like incidents in future,” it said.
The union also appealed to the GNLA to lay down arms and join the mainstream for the sake of peace in Garo Hills.
