Shillong: Two Assam-based bamboo traders have
allegedly been abducted by Garo National Liberation Army
(GNLA) rebels prompting security forces in Meghalaya to launch
search operations to free them.
Meghalaya's Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) commandos
and Combat Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) of the CRPF
have been pressed into service to track down the rebels who
are suspected to be holed up in the Garo Hills region, police
said today.
Amir Hussain and Nor Islam were abducted on November one
from Dame Apal village in East Garo Hills district.
The GNLA has not come forward to claim responsibility for
the kidnapping but police said they have registered a case
against the GNLA as they believe that it is the handiwork of
the outfit under the leadership of one Rahul R Marak, a
self-styled camp commander of the group.
Quoting family members of the two traders, police said
they have not received any demand for ransom money from any
one so far.
The GNLA, which is not a banned outfit in Meghalaya, is
active in all the three Garo Hills districts. It is headed by
a former deputy superintendent of police (DSP) Champion R
Sangma who deserted his police battalion last year.
The Union Home Ministry has reportedly asked the state
government about its views on the issue of banning the outfit.
PTI
First Published: Wednesday, November 09, 2011, 20:11