Four AHAM members arrested
TURA: Four persons allegedly belonging to a ‘social’ organisation formed by former GNLA militant outfit chairman, Champion Sangma have been arrested after Tura police intercepted a vehicle in which they were kidnapping a school principal on the outskirts of Tura on Wednesday.
Principal of Garodubi Higher Secondary School in Rajabala constituency, Islam Haque Chaudhury, was visiting the District School Education Office (DSEO) in Tura when he was reportedly bundled into his own Swift Dezire vehicle ( ML05 Q 7467) in broad daylight by four men said to belong to the ‘social’ organisation A’chik Holistic Awakening Movement (AHAM) headed by the former militant leader.
Although the abduction occurred around 3 pm in the afternoon, police were tipped off almost six hours later.
“We were informed about the kidnapping only around 9 pm and we immediately swung into action setting up road blocks and naka checkings. Within half an hour one of our search teams intercepted the vehicle with the abducted principal and three other persons at Rongram and detained them,” revealed West Garo Hills Superintendent of Police MGR Kumar while speaking to The Shillong Times. A fourth member of the gang was taken into custody, later.
The four AHAM members now in police custody have been identified as Chiangka Ch Marak alias Bromeo (23), Sengkam Ch Marak (26), Alphonce D Sangma and Chakseng T Sangma (27).
They were moving their kidnapped victim out of Tura towards Paikan highway when police intercepted the vehicle.
A case of abduction has been registered against the arrested men based on the FIR filed by principal Islam Haque Choudhury who had to be taken to Civil Hospital in Tura after having sustained injuries at the hands of the kidnappers.
Interestingly, the arrested men claim that the principal was being taken by them for questioning following a rape allegation leveled against him by a woman.
A woman claiming the same arrived at the Tura police station close to midnight on Wednesday to substantiate their claim and register a complaint against the principal.
In her complaint to the police, she accused the principal of raping on her in June at Hotel Rikman in Tura. She also added that the accused had warned her against revealing the incident to police.
In the light of the woman’s revelation, the Garodubi school principal was also arrested and transferred to the under trial prisoner (UTP) cell of Tura Civil Hospital.
Police sources say that the AHAM members were allegedly trying to extort money from the family of the principal after coming to know about the alleged rape when they were busted.
It is also worth mentioning that the arrested principal, Islam Haque Chaudhury, has a history of dubious dealings.
He was previously arrested and sent to jail and the license of his school to conduct SSLC exams revoked after allegations surfaced about mass copying during examinations.