Nine traders from Assam were abducted by suspected militants in Meghalaya’s South Garo Hills district on Friday.
South Garo Hills Superintendent of Police, Anand Mishra confirmed this and said that a search had been launched to rescue the abducted traders. The SP rushed to the spot to take stock of the situation and took up the investigation immediately.
Police said that some armed militants took the traders at gunpoint from Bilkona area. “We suspect the hand of Achik Songa An’pachakgipa Kotok (ASAK) militants behind the abduction,” said a senior police official.
“According to locals, the traders were travelling to a weekly market in two small vehicles. The heavily-armed militants intercepted the two vehicles near Bilkona and took them at gunpoint towards the jungle,” police said adding that they have not been seen since then.
It may be mentioned here that another militant outfit, Garo National liberation Army (GNlA) had abducted eight traders of Assam from South Garo Hills last month. The eight traders abducted last month were later released about a week later and it is assumed that the family members had paid ransom for securing their release.
The Garo hills region of Meghalaya has been in the news for the last several years for killing and abduction carried out by militant outfits like the ASAK and the GNlA. According to official records, between January, 2015 and October 31, 2015 the insurgents of Garo Hills have abducted a total of 87 people for ransom including 25 civilians, 27 businessmen, 25 employees of private sector, five Government employees and five teachers.
It is due to this that the Meghalaya High Court had asked the Centre to bring the Garo Hills region of Meghalaya under the purview of Armed Forces Special Powers’ Act last year. The court has also directed the Principal Secretary in the office of the Prime Minister to place this order before PM for perusal and consideration.