TURA: A criminal gang that has links in Bangladesh is behind the abduction of three traders from Dumnikura on Tuesday morning, police said.
The police said on Wednesday the gang used fake weapons to kidnap the men, all of whom are small-time traders.
“We have identified the group and the mastermind behind the kidnapping. A Bangladeshi national having links with locals in the area orchestrated the crime. The ring leader is a known history-sheeter,” said district SP Anand Mishra.
As many as three police teams have been pressed into action to rescue the traders.
“After a preliminary investigation and speaking to those who escaped, we have come to know that the criminals had in their possession fake weapons, including pipe guns,” said Mishra, who clarified that reports about the victims being taken over to neighbouring Bangladesh were not true. “The gang is holed up with the traders inside Garo Hills. They have not been able to cross over the international border. We have also alerted the BSF who are keeping a vigil on the border,” said the district police chief.
The place where the abduction took place is barely 2km from the border zone in South Garo Hills.
Eleven traders from Dalu were travelling to Jadugre weekly market when their vehicle was waylaid by around eight armed men near the Telekali Reserve Forest in Dumnikura. While eight traders managed to break loose, three others – Tamal Dey (38) of Killapara Dalu, Dulan Mahanta (36) of Palpara Dalu and Durga Pada Dutta (35) of Chaipani Dalu – were kidnapped.
