Tura: The New Year in Garo Hills began with militants making a failed attempt to kidnap a group of traders heading to a weekly market in South Garo Hills on Saturday morning in which one trader sustained a bullet injury.
A vehicle with 15 people, mostly traders, were proceeding to Sibbari weekly market in South Garo Hills when around four armed men signalled them to stop near Mandangre village located on National Highway 62D which connects to Baghmara town.
The incident took place at approximately 6:18 am and about an hour after the police road opening party had checked the route for bobby traps and moved on.
According to district police chief Lakador Syiem, two armed men, one of them carrying a carbine machine gun, came onto the road and signalled the driver to stop his vehicle while two other armed men suspected to be carrying small arms lay in wait nearby.
Seeing the militants the driver took the bold risk of speeding away instead of halting the vehicle.
As the vehicle attempted to drive through one of the militants on the road shot at the tyres damaging two of them.
Another militant perched atop a small hillock fired a shot at the passengers seated at the back of the vehicle.
The bullet hit an Assam trader on his right upper knee.
Despite the firing and damage to the vehicle’s tyres the driver managed to steer the vehicle and proceed on to the safety of Sibbari village.
“We strongly suspect the involvement of dacoits and ASAK militants in the incident,” Syiem said.
The injured trader, Dudubor Rahaman (28) hailing from Jordonga village of Mancachar in Assam, has been shifted to Tura civil hospital for medical treatment. His condition is stated to be stable.
