Five arrested for abduction of 77 years old

SHILLONG, OCT 7: Five persons including a woman were arrested for involvement in the kidnapping case of a 77 year-old-man in July earlier this year who was later rescued in Assam.

The victim was kidnapped while he went for his morning walk and the abductors demanded Rs 5 crore for his safe release.

Tapan Malakar of Kalaishaher, the main kingpin behind the kidnapping, his wife Bada Myrthong, who was involved in the whole conspiracy and abetting the kidnapping were arrested from Lumkhyriem, Ishyrwat Nongmynsong on October 3.

A huge number of incriminating evidence was found. On the same evening Tapan Malakar of Oakland who financed the kidnapping was also arrested, SP M Kharkrang informed.

He said on October 4 the Special Cell team headed by SP (City) Vivek Syiem laid a trap and arrested Bapan Nath from ISBT, Dharmanagar, Tripura.

Bapan Nath has been involved in a series of kidnapping cases. He was involved in the kidnapping of three minors in separate incidents in the years 2010, 2011 and 2012. He is also involved in several kidnappings in Assam, the SP said.

Another co-accused identified as Raja Myrboh who identified the victim on the day of the kidnapping was also arrested from Ishyrwat on October 6.

A vehicle bearing registration no ML10B 3589 Wagon R black colour, White Esteem ML05L 2150, 12(twelve) mobile handsets, 6(six) SIM cards, 1 set number plate (ML10B 3589), suspected fake driving licenses, one live 7.65 ammunition were seized along with an SBI passbook of Animesh Nath.

The Shillong police made joint initiatives with Karimganj, Hailakandi and Cachar district police to trace the victim and to identify and nab the persons behind the kidnapping.

During the investigation the Shillong Police was continuously in contact with Karimganj police(Assam) and Dharmanagar police of Tripura.

On September 15, the victim while being shifted in a Maruti van was intercepted by Karimganj police and one person identified as Nurul Haque of Gamari, Ramkrishna Nagar, Karimganj who was with the victim was arrested. A team was immediately dispatched to Karimganj, Assam for taking further necessary action.

Kharkhrang also informed that the case was handled by the Special Cell of East Khasi to solve the case and it was able to bust the inter-state gang.   He also felt the case also be solved because of the co-operation and the confidence of the family of the victim.-By Our Reporter