Rs 2 lakh paid as ransom, says police
TURA: The 70-year-old father of a Catholic priest, who was taken away at gunpoint from his residence at Imbloka village of Rongara in south Garo Hills into neighbouring Bangladesh was released unharmed on Tuesday after being in captivity on foreign soil for 20 days.
Aidinon R Marak, elderly parent of Catholic missionary Rev. Fr. Francis N Marak was released by his captors near Sibbbari border from where he walked alone and entered India.
He was found exhausted and severely dehydrated after having spent almost three weeks in captivity.
The release was done only after the criminals received the ransom money which they reportedly handed over somewhere in the Dalu border area. Police sources reveal that a sum of Rs 2 lakh was handed over to the criminals for the safe return of Aidinon Marak.
Earlier, the kidnappers’ gang had demanded a huge sum of approximately Rs 35 lakh from the family of the retired government employee and teacher.
He was abducted on the night of June 15 from the remote Rongara region.
Preliminary reports indicate that the kidnappers gang had kept him confined inside a house of a Bangladeshi national across the border with a round the clock guard outside to ensure he did not escape.
He was provided with just one meal a day which was served to him in the evening and the aged victim had to make do with it for the rest of the next day.
Police sources reveal that the gang behind the abduction comprised of Bangladeshi Garos and Muslims who were assisted by Indian nationals as well.
Following the release of Aidinon Marak, the Catholic Church in Garo Hills has expressed its gratitude to all the people who worked tireless for his safe return.
“We are extremely grateful to the citizens of Garo Hills, all the Christian denominations and others for their prayers and support during these trying times,” said Rev. Fr. Theodore Sangma, Parish priest of Sacred Heart Church, Tura.
