Pharmacist gets freedom after 10 days of ordeal
TURA: A pharmacist who was abducted from a weekly market in South Garo Hills more than ten days ago has been released somewhere near Williamnagar in East Garo Hills raising doubts about the role of cross border criminals and turning the radar towards the possible role played by Garo militants in the incident.
Biplop Dhar (40), resident of Chaipani in Dalu, was kidnapped at gunpoint on July 8 while selling his products at Dumnikura weekly market of south Garo Hills.
His release somewhere near Williamnagar town in East Garo Hills on Sunday has now pushed the finger of suspicion on either the GNLA or ASAK outfit.
He had reportedly been kept blindfolded with his arms tied at a jungle hideout high above a place called Buga Dongram, located between Chokpot and Dumnikura.
Shortly after he was abducted an alarm was raised and security tightened along the international border to cut off the possibility of Bangla criminals trying to take him across.
With no sign of cross border movement in the Southern region police began to extend their investigation into the possible role of rebel groups.
More than a week later, police were surprised to find out that the victim was released on Sunday and had made his way back to Chaipani. By the time police reached his home to check on him, Dhar had already left the place with family members claiming that he had gone to Assam on medical treatment.
It is suspected that money changed hands for his release.
While the prime suspect has been ASAK outfit which operates extensively in the South Garo Hills area, police have also stumbled on fresh evidence suggesting the presence of a group of GNLA cadres in the Dumnikura region around the time of the kidnapping incident.
GNLA commander for Chokpot region identified as Kamdat was reportedly spotted with six other heavily armed cadres descending from Chokpot area towards Sibbari.
Dumnikura village is located in the Sibbari area itself.