TURA, Feb 3: A trader from Assam dealing in areca nut sale has gone missing in South Garo Hills since Tuesday and it has been suspected that he has been kidnapped by criminals.
The trader, identified as Nur Muhammad, who hails from Mankachar town in South Salmara district of Assam, had driven his Mahindra pick-up mini truck to South Garo Hills in order to purchase areca nut from the farmers.
Muhammad was scheduled to visit Karukol village, 25 kms from Baghmara on the road to Siju, on Tuesday when he disappeared with his vehicle.
According to police sources, the trader was last seen at Baghmara town before his departure to the areca nut plantations in the villages of the region. Police have, meanwhile, begun a search operation to trace the missing trader.
With militancy long gone from this remote region, the handiwork of petty criminals and kidnapper gangs are not being ruled out.
Prior to last year’s shutdown and the subsequent reopening of activities towards the end of 2020, there has been a string of kidnapping cases involving petty criminals in and around different places of Garo Hills.
In most cases, traders venturing out into village markets to sell wares or purchase produce have been prime targets.
