TURA: The police are yet to find the eight traders from Assam who were kidnapped by cadres of the ASAK outfit though anti-insurgency operations in South Garo Hills and East Garo Hills districts have been intensified.
South Garo Hills police chief Anand Mishra said, “We continue to comb the dense forests of South Garo Hills and it appears ASAK chief Reding T Sangma has taken his captives deeper into the jungles. Our teams are still inside the forests.” He added that additional commando units of SWAT and SF-10 have been deployed.
Meanwhile, six close associates of the ASAK leader have been taken into custody in Chokpot for their alleged involvement in the abduction.
The militants had abducted nine traders while they were on their way to Silkigre weekly market but one of them had managed to slip away a night later.
The ASAK leader, who is said to have only three other cadres with him, has reportedly been staying away from human habitation and traditional jungle routes to avoid detection. He is also said to be carrying utensils and other items to avoid entering villages in search of food.
Police are also on the lookout for an over-ground collaborator of the outfit in Kemrangre village who has been absconding since the incident took place last week.
The lone escapee from the traders’ group had revealed to police that the militant refused to take jungle paths used by villagers and others preferring to make his own pathway to avoid being caught.
