SBI manager abducted

TURA, JUNE 16: Arvind Kumar, SBI Ampati branch manager, was abducted by militants from Garobadha. He was on his way to Ampati, the district headquarter of South-West Garo Hills.

The incident took place between 9:30 to 10 am on Monday.

Police said Kumar was travelling with his driver Sanjay Mahanta, when three suspected militants stopped their i20 vehicle near a bridge at Garobadha, and took them on a gunpoint.

A massive combing operation has been launched to nab the unidentified militant involved in the abduction of the SBI official.

“Security forces from West and South-West Garo Hills is conducting joint operation along Garobadha – Rangsakona area”, said West Garo Hills SP Mukesh Singh.

“First they asked for money, on his refusal, the three militants sat behind and asked the driver to take the vehicle towards Rangsakona. After reaching Rangsakona, they kept the manager and asked the driver to move with his vehicle”, Singh informed.

Police are interrogating the driver.

SBI assistant general manager of Garo hills, Nixon Joseph, has appealed to the abductors to release the official, who has come from outside to serve the region and its people.

“Bank officials are depending only on their salary for their livelihood. I request those who have kidnapped the official to release him as he has to support his family and his child. SBI is trying its best to develop Garo hills and incidents like this would only dampen efforts to do more for Garo hills”, said Joseph in his appeal.

Meanwhile the NPP condemned the kidnapping of Kumar. In a statement issued by NPP spokesman and legislator James K Sangma, he said the situation in Garo hills is reaching to such a point that no citizen is safe.

Sangma said, “We request the perpetrators of this kidnapping to immediately release Arvind Kumar. We also demand that the home department should wake up to the present scenario and put an effective mechanism to ensure the safety of the citizens of Garo hills.

Sangma further said this incident also goes to prove that the law and order situation of Garo hills is beyond the control of chief minister Mukul Sangma and his government.- From Our Correspondent